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Morgan Whittaker of Middlesbrough celebrates scoring(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\nThe verdict as Kim Hellberg influences a huge 4-1 victory for Middlesbrough over Hull CityMorgan Whittaker of Middlesbrough celebrates scoring(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Welcome to Hell-ball! Kim Hellberg\u2019s Middlesbrough made it two wins in two for the new head coach in quite some style, beating Hull City 4-1 at the MKM Stadium.<\/p>\n
Having been promised aggressive, attack-minded football, the Swedish coach\u2019s side have quickly delivered. They were impressive winners on a miserable night in Humberside as they raced into a four-goal lead by half-time.<\/p>\n
With Hellberg\u2019s changes and promise to hand opportunities when earned paying off, David Strelec, Alex Gilbert, Morgan Whittaker and Riley McGree all bagged goals for Boro.<\/p>\n
Hellberg made three changes for the trip. With Alan Browne out, Gilbert was the latest to get an opportunity under the new boss as he made his first start since the final game of the 2023-24 season.<\/p>\n
On top of that, Riley McGree and David Strelec were back in the starting lineup, replacing Sontje Hansen and Delano Burgzorg who both made the substitutes bench.<\/p>\n
On a night where the rain fell torrentially, Boro\u2019s preparations were far from ideal. Traffic chaos around the ground meant they arrived late, pushing kick-off back 15 minutes.<\/p>\n
Any fears that would impact them were quickly eradicated when, after a positive start, Boro took the lead in just the ninth minute of the game.<\/p>\n
A brilliant Hayden Hackney ball set McGree away down the left wing and his cross eventually fell kindly to David Strelec, who fired home only his second goal for the club.<\/p>\n
Asked before the game if he had any concerns about his side\u2019s lack of goals so far this season, Hellberg replied simply, \u2018no\u2019. In a rare showing of ruthless aggression from Boro, three more goals in 12 minutes before the break saw them take a comfortable lead and is hopefully a sign of things to come under the new head coach.<\/p>\n
The first – Boro\u2019s second of the night – was another selection pay-off for Hellberg as Gilbert fired his first Boro goal since Boro\u2019s last visit here on New Year\u2019s Day. Strelec\u2019s press forced John Egan into an error playing out. Tommy Conway picked up the loose ball before teeing up Gilbert on the edge who hit a low piledriver into the bottom corner.<\/p>\n
Just two minutes later it was 3-0 Boro. Gilbert this time turned provider as he won the ball on the half way line before driving forward on the counter. He slid it wide to Whittaker who cut in on his left before firing a clinical curled effort into the far corner.<\/p>\n
Boro were not finished there in their best 45 minutes of the season by some distance. Just a minute before the break, McGree marked his enjoyable comeback with a goal. Conway this time with a lovely ball to get Alex Bangura to the byline. He cut back and McGree, needing a second bite at the cherry, eventually fired past Ivor Pandur.<\/p>\n
There was understandably more urgency about the home side after the interval. They were booed off at half-time and then home fans ironically celebrated with a chant of \u2018we\u2019ve had a shot\u2019 on 56 minutes when Egan mishit one that went tamely through to Sol Brynn.<\/p>\n
Hull did soon have one back though. Attempting to play out from the back, Hackney was under pressure deep in his own half and underhit his backpass. With Joe Gelhardt onto it ahead of Brynn, the Boro keeper was deemed to have caught the striker, who then got up to beat him from the spot.<\/p>\n
To manage the inevitable surge, Hellberg introduced George Edmundson and Sammy Silvera with 20 minutes remaining. Edmundson made his welcome return from injury to boost defensive options.<\/p>\n
To Boro\u2019s credit, they managed the final 20 minutes well. What could have easily turned into an uncomfortable finish had the hosts bagged a second, Brynn didn\u2019t have another save to make, as the game played out more like a training exercise for Boro.<\/p>\n
Hull call themselves the Tigers, but it was the Boro doing the mauling on this occasion. A sold-out Boro away end certainly enjoyed it. Hell-ball promises many more nights like this. His influence was all over this emphatic Boro win.<\/p>\n
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