Middlesbrough are getting better and better, according to head coach Kim Hellberg.

The Teessiders stretched their unbeaten run to eight games in the Championship with a 3-2 win at Stoke on Tuesday night to remain second in the table.

"It felt like it could have been a smoother ride but again it's the mentality when it goes to 2-2 then going on to win it," Hellberg told BBC Radio Tees.

"You could see in the game when they scored we go and push again and it was clear we were chasing to win the game. Without a doubt it was a fair result - we are starting to get better and better."

Middlesbrough beat Wolves 1-0 on Saturday and Hellberg saluted his side's resilience for following-up that victory with Tuesday's win.

"The performance as a whole was a top one, to go away against a team with five wins and a draw in their past six games is very impressive," he added.

"You play a game on Saturday against Wolves which means so much to everyone, playing against a team that has come down from the Premier League.

"Then you go to Stoke against a team who haven't lost in six and put up that sort of performance, that is brilliant from the boys."

From a tactical formation and squad depth perspective, "Middlesbrough getting better and better - Hellberg" carries substantial tournament implications for international seeding and domestic campaign momentum. Coaching staffs are heavily weighing high-pressing efficiency (PPDA), defensive transition pace, and fixture fatigue management.

Tactical analysts monitoring Live Commentary metrics emphasize that squad adaptability and set-piece execution will likely dictate outcomes in high-leverage knockout environments. Real-time match telemetry and tracking data continue to inform managerial decision-making.

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