According to Sky Sports, Middlesbrough have the most clean sheets of any EFL club so far this season.
This is obviously a very encouraging stat for Boro, but this only tells half the story with regards to the club’s success. As good as they are in defence, the club equally need an attack to complement them at the other end of the pitch.
This has been the main problem for Boro so far this season, they have just been short on goals on a few occasions. Nonetheless, they are still in a brilliant position in the Championship, sitting in second place, only two points behind leaders Norwich.
However, the upturn in striker Jordan Hugill’s form is an indication that Boro are fast becoming a lethal team at both ends of the pitch. The striker, on loan from West Ham, has now scored three goals in his last two appearances for Tony Pulis’ men. The 26-year-old had a poor start to the season, with many fans despairing over his form. However, the dip by fellow striker Britt Assombalonga forced the Welsh manager to turn to Hugill, and it is starting to pay off.
Given the fact that the manager has already emphasised the need to reinforce the team up front in January, Hugill is starting to solve some of the club’s problems that have arisen in the opening months of the season. With this new potency in attack, combined with their notoriously resolute defence, Middlesbrough have the recipe to be unstoppable this season.
