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  1. 'We have to score goals to win' - Hellbergpublished at 18:09 GMT 21 March

    Media caption,

    Hellberg: 'Sad' not to celebrate with 'top' Boro fans

    Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg knows that his team will not gain automatic promotion unless they sharpen up their act in front of goal.

    It is now one goal in three games after they were held to a goalless draw at relegation-threatened Blackburn Rovers.

    While it was a third blank in a run of eight matches in which Boro have taken only 10 points as their promotion push stutters.

    The Teessiders had over 70% of possession and missed some good chances in the first half but they lost momentum after the break.

    It was a familiar story for Hellberg, who was pleased with much of his side's work at Ewood Park, even if the most important thing was lacking.

    "It was a very, very good first half," said the Swede.

    "The first 15, 20 minutes of the second half felt very good but then it became open from us trying to chase the game.

    "We wanted it so much that we lost a bit of control and quality in terms of how we played, but it was a good performance in many ways.

    "We're doing our best, we kept a clean sheet away from home, we're trying to score, we created a lot of opportunities, but it didn't fall for us.

    "Of course we need to score goals. If we don't, we won't win games."

  2. 🎧 Are Ipswich the team to beat in promotion race?published at 16:40 GMT 19 March

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    "I do believe Ipswich potentially have got more ways to win. If Middlesbrough don't unlock that formula of breaking teams down when they are sitting in that lower block and making things hard, that can do for them in terms of that top-two place."

    Coventry are seven points clear at the top of the Championship and look well set for a place in next season's Premier League.

    In the latest 72+ podcast, the team discuss why Ipswich Town might be the favourites for the second automatic promotion spot.

    They also preview Saturday's huge game at Portman Road between Ipswich and a Millwall side eyeing the same prize.

    Listen on BBC Sounds

    Listen on BBC Sounds
  3. Pick of the stats: Blackburn Rovers v Middlesbroughpublished at 10:21 GMT 19 March

    Side-by-side of Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough club badges

    Blackburn Rovers will hope to upset the hunt for automatic promotion places once again when they welcome second placed Middlesbrough on Saturday (12:30 GMT).

    Rovers beat a 10-man Millwall last time out to prevent the Lions from leapfrogging Boro into the top two.

    The Teesside club are still under threat from Millwall though, as well as third placed Ipswich Town, and have failed to win either of their past two Championship games (D1 L1).

    However, a win will mean just as much to Rovers, who are only three points above the relegation zone and seeking more breathing space at the bottom.

    • The last four Championship meetings between Blackburn (1) and Middlesbrough (2) have produced just three goals, with this season's reverse fixture finishing 0-0 at the Riverside.

    • Middlesbrough won in this exact fixture last season (2-0 in April 2025); they haven't won consecutive league matches at Ewood Park since the 1980s (won three between 1986 and 1989).

    • Blackburn have won three of their seven Championship games under Michael O'Neill (D1 L3), as many victories as they had in their 18 league games prior to O'Neill's arrival (W3 D7 L8).

    • Middlesbrough are winless in their last two Championship games (D1 L1); they only scored one goal across those two matches, despite attempting 53 shots, amassing 5.05 expected goals, and having 122 touches in the opposition box.

    • Morgan Whittaker has averaged a goal or assist every 139 minutes under Kim Hellberg; his best minutes per goal involvement ratio under any manager in the Championship (min. 5 games).

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