Charlton Athletic 1-2 Middlesbrough: Hellberg makes it a hat-trick of wins at the Valley

Middlesbrough cruised to victory in the Championship last night, comfortably beating Charlton at the Valley.

First-half goals from Riley McGree and Morgan Whittaker earned Boro a crucial three points in the race for promotion.

Middlesbrough went into the game following an impressive 4-1 win away from home against Hull, and began the game with real authority and almost took an early lead.

Hayden Hackney’s well-struck shot from outside the box was saved brilliantly by Thomas Kaminski.

Yet, Middlesbrough took the lead just after the half-hour mark, when Delano Burgzorg’s driven cross found McGree in acres of space and he calmly passed the ball into the corner of the net.

After a brief period of Charlton control, Boro found their second on the break. McGree found Whittaker in space, with the in-form Boro attacker taking the ball in his stride and blasting the ball past Kaminski at his near post.

Boro almost got their third goal, when McGree’s powerful shot was directed goalwards; only for Kaminski’s outstretched leg to deny his second.

In the dying embers of the game, Charlton got a goal back, when Rob Apter’s cross was turned into his own net by substitute George Edmundson.

Following the result, Boro remain in second place in the Championship, only five points behind league leaders Coventry.

Kim Hellberg’s side next play QPR on Saturday 13th December at the Riverside.