Middlesbrough

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Middlesbrough kept their first clean sheet of the Championship season after eking out a 1-0 win over Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, and it's the positives to take from their gutsy performance that has fan Dana Malt optimistic for the future.

"It's not always about the swashbuckling Boro, it sometimes does need to be about the gritty Boro," Malt said.

"[Will] Lankshear, seventh goal of the season - that's crazy! First start for Ashley Phillips. He did look like he was struggling with the pace, but he's not had a pre-season. Radek Vitek had a good game today, that's a confidence boost.

"This team are still adapting, and there's a sense that there is more to come from Boro, and that's exciting."

Listen to the full post-match reaction plus interviews with Kim Hellberg and Callum Brittain below or on BBC Sounds here.

Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg spoke to BBC Radio Tees after Boro's narrow win away to Queens Park Rangers, their first victory on the road since March.

For a written selection of his quotes, click here.

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Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg has said he believes Adilson Malanda's strongest position is centre-back.

The 24-year-old usually plays in the backline but has been utilised in a defensive midfield role on occasion, including in Boro's 1-1 draw at Burnley on Wednesday.

Speaking before Middlesbrough's trip to QPR on Saturday - the second of three away games for the team in six days - Hellberg said Malanda "is the centre-back and that's where I see him".

He told BBC Radio Tees: "But then of course, you need to put the best team on the pitch and I think Malanda has been absolutely brilliant.

"Some of our best games are when he plays as a six stepping up. I think his first half [at Burnley] was absolutely brilliant."

Hellberg described the Frenchman, who arrived at Boro from MLS side Charlotte FC in August 2025, as a "unique player".

He added: "In general I think his best position is centre-back, but sometimes you have to put what's best for the team and he's very versatile and can do a lot of things.

"He's an unbelievable footballer that should get a lot of praise from everyone for what he's doing and how he puts his team first, because whatever I tell him, if I told him to be goalkeeper tomorrow, he would do it."

Hellberg confirmed midfielder Myles Peart-Harris is fit to travel to Loftus Road after missing the Burnley game with a calf issue, but said the match will come too soon for injured winger Jeremy Sarmiento.

Listen to Kim Hellberg's full pre-match press conference below or on BBC Sounds.

Queens Park Rangers will look to continue their excellent start to the season as they host Middlesbrough on Saturday (15:00 BST).

The R's haven't lost a single Championship game across their opening four, with only Swansea City having a better start to the season by just two goals.

While Boro currently sit seventh on the table but failed to win away to a struggling Burnley side last time out.

• QPR have lost each of their last five league meetings with Middlesbrough, shipping at least two goals in each defeat.

• Middlesbrough have won each of their last three league visits to QPR, as many as their first 26 beforehand (D11 L12).

• QPR have won more points from losing positions than any other side in the Championship this season (6), coming from behind for two of their three wins so far.

• Middlesbrough are winless in their last six away league games, though five of these have been draws and their last victory came at QPR in March (4-0).

• No side has had more shots in the Championship this season than either QPR or Middlesbrough (70), while the Hoops have had more shots on target than anyone else (26).

We asked for your thoughts after Burnley's 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough stretched their winless run to start the Championship season to four games.

The Clarets remain 23rd in the table on two points, while Boro are fifth with two wins, one draw and a loss.

Here are some of your comments:

Burnley fans

Andy: Better in the second half but Middlesbrough were easily the better side. Too many passes went astray, too many tackles lost and no striker worthy of the name. Satpaev the best player again meaning we will probably transfer him in January so the owners can make more money. We should look at the free agents, but so disappointing there are no English players in our starting line-up.

Gav: First half the old habits crept in with a cheap goal and lack of effort. We looked like a team that had never played together (which is broadly what we are). Second half was a totally different story. Played well, with a high tempo against a good side in Boro. More confidence and we could have nicked it.

Richard: It's far too early to judge Nicky Hayen and his new squad, but our second-half performance today coupled with our overall performance against West Ham on the opening day bode well for a successful season. Our young loanee Satpaev looks like a wonderful signing and Amdouni had his best second half in a Claret shirt.

Andie: Second half obviously better on the night, but even the first half showed some improvement (not least we didn't concede two goals in the opening five minutes!). New signings looked hopeful, especially Satpaev, and I'm hopeful for Reo Hatate. So, hoping we improve - we need to!

Mark: We were terrible first half. But played a lot better second half - we played like a team with confidence. Satpaev had another good game. We really need to work on our shooting with the strikers, but Flemming is going to be missed. I just hope we can sign a good striker on the free agent list.

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Middlesbrough fans

Martin: Boro should have been out of sight by half-time and poor closing down gave them the goal. Normally, we'd be happy with a point away but should have been all three. We're still settling in and we've got two or three players to come in and make a big difference, then watch us go.

Todo: Need to beat teams that are low on confidence, coming off the back of a good win ourselves.

Buzz: Too slow in getting to the last third then we stop and play it back to the halfway line. We are a team of crabs, sideways... sideways... zzzzzzz… UTB.

Steve: Typical Boro - clueless in front of goal.

Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg spoke to BBC Radio Tees after their draw against Burnley.

For a written selection of his quotes, click here.

Middlesbrough's new midfield signing Rokas Pukstas has never played domestic football outside of Croatia - so what will he bring to the English game?

The 22-year-old has arrived at Boro following a four-year spell in the Hajduk Split first team in which he scored 27 goals and registered 10 assists in 142 games.

Croatian football journalist Lovre Nikolac said one of Pukstas' main qualities is arriving late in the box to provide a goal threat.

"He is very good arriving late and as soon as he steps on the pitch, as soon as there's an aerial duel, he wins it," Nikolac told BBC Radio Tees.

"He can jump high. He's very strong and his play with headers is amazing. If there's one thing that he cannot improve on, I think it's that.

"He arrives late and [also] picks up the scraps sometimes."

Pukstas also has an exceptional work rate and stamina, according to Nikolac - something which Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg demands from his players.

"Obviously we can talk about the goals, but it's what he does off the ball," said Nikolac.

"He just runs. There's no other way to put it. He never stops and he does everything that's needed from him.

"And he's box to box, so up and down the pitch the whole game and never looks tired."

Nikolac believes one area where the USA under-23 international can improve is his technical game and passing ability.

"He's not great at passing, but everything else he's got spot on. Defending, reading the game, late arrivals, scoring goals," he added.

"But if he can improve that, then you have a whole player, a true midfielder. You can use him wherever you want. He has the physicality to do anything."

Listen to Lovre Nikolac's full interview above or on BBC sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

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Explore more Middlesbrough content on BBC Sounds

BBC Radio Tees' Neil Maddison is joined by fellow former Middlesbrough player Stewart Downing to discuss the club's transfer business.

The show, which runs from 22:00-00:00 BST, will offer the latest updates and analysis.

Listen to it here

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Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

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Brighton have agreed a deal to sign Nigeria winger Femi Azeez from Millwall.

The 25-year-old scored 11 goals and provided eight assists in 37 games last season, earning a place in the PFA Championship team of the year.

Azeez has been pushing for a move to the Premier League, with Millwall rejecting at least three bids from the Seagulls in recent weeks.

His departure would be a club record sale for Millwall, who are set to receive an initial £12.5m - potentially rising past £15m with add-ons.

Azeez would be Brighton's 11th signing of the summer, including their club record £45m move for Tottenham centre-back Luka Vuskovic.

The Seagulls have also raised significant funds through player sales, including Carlos Baleba's £70m move to Manchester United, while Liverpool have been linked with winger Yankuba Minteh.

Azeez joined Millwall from Reading for about £1m in 2024 and is entering the final two years of his contract.

He had been left out of the Lions' three most recent matchday squads by manager Alex Neil.

Fellow Championship club Wrexham are also understood to have shown an interest in the attacker.

His arrival at Brighton will allow Seagulls winger Amario Cozier-Duberry, who has signed a new contract, to leave on loan.

The 21-year-old, who had a successful loan spell at Bolton Wanderers in League One last season, is expected to join Championship side Middlesbroughthis term.

He looks likely to replace Morgan Whittaker at Boro, with the winger set to join Major League Soccer side Colorado Rapids.

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Transfer deadline day is upon us and today is the final chance for your EFL club to finalise any business until January.

The transfer window closes at 23:00 BST, so we might have some late night scrambles to get deals over the line.

There has already been plenty of movement this summer and whether it's a busy or quiet day for your club, you will be able to keep across it all on BBC Sport.

Follow our EFL deadline day live text coverage throughout the day here

Get alerts and keep up to date with all the latest news, insight and fan views for your club

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Midfielder Abdoulaye Kante has left Middlesbrough to join Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq on a permanent deal.

Kante, 21, moved to Boro last summer from French club Troyes and spent the second half of last season on loan at Saint-Etienne.

He started Boro's first Championship game of the season, playing over an hour, as they came from behind to beat Lincoln City 2-1.

In total, Kante made six appearances for the club.

Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg enjoyed his side's improved second-half performance against West Brom.

The hosts were on the back foot for much of the first half but were better after the interval, and ran out 3-1 winners.

Asked by BBC Radio Tees what he had said to his players at half-time, Hellberg joked: "Things that I cannot say on radio because of the language - I cannot swear!"

He added: "We talked about things. We weren't intense enough and structurally not good enough, and that's why the first half was not as good as we wanted.

"Then the second half was totally different. We could have scored six in that second half - it was chance after chance.

"We did a brilliant second half and were running over them. That's very strong from the boys."

Will Lankshear scored twice, taking his tally to six goals in five matches since being signed from Tottenham this summer.

Lankshear opened the scoring early in the second half - despite clearly being offside - and restored the hosts' lead after Jimmy-Jay Morgan's equaliser. The fit-again Alfie Jones added a late third.

Hellberg said: "I'm very happy. The second half was brilliant from us. And what a big win against a team that hadn't lost."