Middlesbrough 3-1 QPR: Kim Hellberg extends unbeaten run to four matches

Middlesbrough came out triumphant in a dominant display at the Riverside in the Sky Bet Championship, with a 3-1 win over QPR.

Early goals from David Strelec and in-form Morgan Whittaker and a second-half Tommy Conway penalty was only matched by a late penalty from Nicolas Madsen for the visitors.

Kim Hellberg was yet to taste defeat prior to the game, winning his first three games, and after a couple of chances for Boro, Strelec gave them a much deserved lead.

A brilliant defence-splitting pass from Hayden Hackney set Strelec through one-on-one with the keeper, and he calmly slotted a finish past Paul Nardi.

Only five minutes later, Boro’s lead doubled with Whittaker’s strike.

He found space on the edge of the box, cut inside and bent the ball round the QPR defender, blinding the keeper and it slotted into the corner of the net.

With fans just making their way back to their seats after half time, Boro were awarded a penalty, when Callum Brittain was needlessly chopped down by winger Koki Saito.

Conway stepped up and calmly slotted the ball straight down the middle, past the diving Nardi for Boro’s third of the day.

With Boro controlling the game, a lapse of concentration from Luke Ayling earned QPR a penalty, as Paul Smyth was hacked down on the by-line – Madsen stepped up and beat Sol Brynn.

Hellberg has now won all of his four games as Boro boss and they remain in second place.