After the disappointment of the 2024-25 season at Luton Town, Rob Edwards is quickly rebuilding his reputation. He sits atop the 2025-26 Championship table with new club Middlesbrough after six games.
Having claimed 16 points from a possible 18, Edwards’ Boro side look like genuine promotion contenders at this early stage. But the 42 year old’s development has come not from ripping up his own playbook. Instead, he’s made small yet significant tweaks based on the mistakes made at Kenilworth Road last term.
While the wing-backs remain, at the Riverside Stadium Edwards has been moving away from a traditional strike partnership. Instead, he fields a lone striker supported by two advanced midfielders who play very centrally. This creates a narrow triangle at the fulcrum of the attack. The likes of Morgan Whittaker, Sverre Nypan and Sontje Hansen have rotated heavily in these forward roles. Tommy Conway most often leads the line as the central striker.
Behind them, Hayden Hackney has been a key figure. Although he starts as a central midfielder, Hackney regularly pushes high and functions as Boro’s most natural No.10. This adds another body to overload central zones and turn that attacking triangle into a diamond. He’s at the centre of everything that’s been good about this team so far, particularly in the final third. Hackney has completed 90 final third passes, won possession 10 times and registered two assists. Aidan Morris has been a valuable ballast, but it’s Hackney making the team tick.
Wing-backs Matt Targett and Callum Brittain are tasked with stretching the pitch. And they provide the main source of width both in attack and as outlets when possession is recycled. They ensure the likes of Hansen and Nypan can stay closer to goal – and each other. Targett was a particularly smart addition on loan from Newcastle United in the latter stages of the window. He brings experience and verticality to Edwards’ distinct tactical plan.
That narrow positioning of the attacking midfielders creates central overloads, which in turn opens up space for Targett and Brittain on the flanks. It’s leading to a more exciting, dynamic style of play than Boro fans were used to under previous boss Michael Carrick. Boro currently rank first in the league for through balls and take-ons completed — evidence of the directness and dynamism in their attacking play.
Out of possession, Middlesbrough rely on a compact mid-block that compresses central spaces and denies opponents easy progression. The wing-backs, who are aggressive in the attacking phase, drop into deeper positions to reinforce the back line when defending, making it difficult for teams to play through them and forcing them to deliver crosses into the box from deep. This is highlighted by the fact that goalkeeper Sol Brynn has claimed the most crosses in the Championship so far this term.
However, that excitement in attack is underscored by Boro’s strong start. And you’d forgive fans for getting a little carried away early on. After years of slow openings, they collected more points in their first five league games this season (13) than across the first five of the previous three campaigns combined. While Carrick attempted to build a team in his own image — calm, controlling and possession-driven — he never really had an elite squad with which to dominate the ball in what is such a competitive league.
Last year, much of the creative burden fell on Finn Azaz. The Irish international ended the campaign with an impressive 12 goals, 11 assists and a division-leading 88 chances created. But this year there is less focus and more of a collective approach, as highlighted by Edwards’ decision not to name an official club captain. Seven players have already registered an assist in the Championship this term (including Azaz who has since left for Southampton). Meanwhile, Hackney, Conway, Targett and Whittaker have all created more than 1 chance per 90 minutes so far this season.
Of course, the Championship is a marathon rather than a sprint. And Edwards will know better than most how quickly early-season momentum can be eroded once the fixture list begins to tighten and opponents adapt. Heavy rotation in the forward line can be a good way to combat this, providing those players stay in good form. The demanding use of wing-backs will also be tested as the months roll on.
However, the early signs are impossible to ignore. Middlesbrough look sharper, more cohesive and more threatening than they have in years. If Edwards can maintain this balance of organisation and adventure, what some might dismiss as a honeymoon period could instead be the foundation for a genuine promotion challenge.