Kim Hellberg hails 'brave' Middlesbrough after 4-0 rout of Southampton and waxes lyrical about Adilson Malanda
Kim Hellberg saluted his “brave” Middlesbrough players after they ended their goal drought in style against Southampton.
Not only had Middlesbrough failed to win any of their previous four games, they had not registered a single goal.
Hellberg’s men got over the hump in spectacular fashion, blowing Southampton away in a 4-0 win.
Morgan Whittaker bagged a brace, while Sam Silvera and Alan Browne also got in on the act.
Kim Hellberg hails “brave” Middlesbrough
Hellberg said: “This win is about the players, characters, how I see them work at training ground, how they have lifted each other, stayed positive, it has been unreal to play well and not get the points we deserved.
“The business of results is to win games. We saw a group of players today who have kept playing and been brave, and the second half was an unbelievable performance.”
A debut to remember for Adilson Malanda
Middlesbrough’s attacking vibrancy was enthralling, yet the man of the match was arguably centre-back Adilson Malanda.
The 24-year-old, signed from MLS outfit Charlotte, was handed his Middlesbrough debut and was a rock at the back.
Hellberg said: “That was such a good performance. To have a centre-back, and playing in the right spaces, with that height, is needed.
“I see myself as an offensive coach, but I love the defensive side of things. Even when the goals haven’t come, you couldn’t see the bad body language anywhere in the players. They have been unbelievable.”
The Southampton view
Saints boss Tonda Eckert, meanwhile, said: “We saw two games in the end. We played one game in 55 minutes and the other game after that. The first 55 minutes we played a decent game, had more than enough chances, but the second half was not good enough.
“It was a big disappointment. It is not about pointing fingers, the disappointment is huge but there’s no divide. We can talk about the game after 55 minutes, it was nowhere near good enough.
“The first goal changed everything, changed confidence. From what I have heard it was a clear offside decision. It was a tough call and when you invest so much into the game, the second half of the game was not good enough. We needed to score the first goal.
“I expect all the players to go over to the fans (at the end of the game), we are grateful to the support. We need to represent this club in a better way.”