'Aggressive mindsets' and 'character' - What Middlesbrough's manager has liked about Sheffield Wednesday
Middlesbrough's Kim Hellberg has been impressed by how Sheffield Wednesday have handled their horrible situation this season.
Wednesday have a tough task on their hands this evening as they head to the Riverside to face Boro, with the hosts trying to get back on track after a rough run of form in the Championship.
The Owls could be without Svante Ingelsson still due to his knee injury, while big players like Hayden Hackney, Riley McGree and Leo Castledine are among those missing for the hosts.
Hellberg, who is hoping to see his side end a seven-game winless run, certainly isn’t taking Wednesday for granted despite their long wait for a victory.
“But they’ve drawn three in a row now. Nothing in this league is won on paper,” he told TeesideLive. “They’re in the best form of their season with three without a loss, and went to Coventry and drew 0-0. So they fight. You have to give them a lot of credit - for the coach and to the players - to keep fighting, to keep staying in games.
“It’s been very few games where there’s been like a big score. It’s been even-steven all the way. So, a lot of credit to them for how they fought through this very difficult season for them.
“We know we need to win home games. That’s what we need to do, and we will try to do it on Wednesday and on Saturday. That is important, that’s the only thing I’m thinking about. We need to go out and win games.”
“Quite aggressive and offensive-minded…”
He went on to add, “They’ve been trying to get out after games as good as they can. They’ve been quite aggressive in their mindsets and trying to press and trying to work forward. I think that’s how they’ve tried to go about games.
“When the other teams have been good, they of course end up lower, trying to defend, as every team does. But I think they are quite aggressive and offensive-minded - that’s what they try to do. I applaud that.
“They’re in a situation where they can go out and play freely. It’s a group that’s had a lot of energy through a very difficult time and a difficult period and been strong in that and showed a lot of character from both coach and players.”
The game, which will see Liam Palmer go level with Jack Brown in second place on 507 Owls appearances, will get underway at 7.45pm this evening.