Kim Hellberg says Middlesbrough can get better after Charlton stroll

Manager Kim Hellberg is confident there is even more to come from his Middlesbrough side and red-hot striker Will Lankshear after the Championship leaders extended their unbeaten league run to 11 games with a dominant 3-0 victory against Charlton.

While the away side had fleeting moments in attacking areas, Boro largely dominated proceedings, with an early strike from midfield general Sebastian Berhalter followed by another two goals from Lankshear.

“We’re happy with the performance overall. I think we played good, but maybe not at our best,” said Hellberg.

“There were things we could have maybe done better, but at the end of the day I think 3-0 is a fair result and says a lot about this group and the quality they have.”

Lankshear is out on his own as the Championship’s leading goalscorer with 13 goals in as many games.

He was taken off with cramp immediately after smashing the final goal of the game into the top corner in the 82nd minute, but Hellberg was full of praise for not only the 21-year-old striker but also his team-mates for providing him with the service.

“It helps to play in a team like ours…I don’t think there’s many teams in Europe that create more chances than us,” he continued. “I think he has unbelievable team-mates around him that suit him very well.

“I think he’s exactly the same boy that came through the doors some months ago. There’s always a smile on his face, except when he misses chances, even in training.”

Hellberg is keen not to look too far ahead, despite Middlesbrough’s excellent position and recent form.

He added: “A lot of it is about being better every day and that’s what you can control. I’m not thinking about what will happen after 46 games in May as that will not help anyone.

“I want to finish first or second of course, but for us it’s all about being better.”

Charlton manager Nathan Jones bemoaned the defensive mistakes that have led to his team not winning a league game since the end of August.

“We felt we were well in the game, but then we never gave ourselves a chance really with that defending and second half we kept giving the ball away,” he said.

“We didn’t do the basics well enough and we have to find a formula to improve. At the minute we’re conceding goals we shouldn’t concede.

“We came here last year with a weaker a squad and we kept a clean sheet. We defended for our lives and put our bodies on the line and they’re not doing that now. That’s the worrying thing and that’s what we have to turn around.”