EFL takeaways: Kim Hellberg's hot start at Middlesbrough and Leicester City find their feet | OneFootball

According to BBC UK, Aaron McLean set out five takeaways from Saturday across the Championship, League One and League Two. They covered Kim Hellberg's start, Leicester's statement, Norwich's uptick, Bolton's promotion push and Ian Holloway's work at Swindon.

Swede Kim Hellberg has won his first four Middlesbrough games, the latest a 3-1 win over QPR at the Riverside. Boro are seven points clear of third and within five of leaders Coventry. The focus is on maintaining momentum and racking up promotion points.

Leicester beat Ipswich 3-1, capped by Abdul Fatawu scoring from inside his own half. Amid off-field issues, the sense is they have underachieved and needed this against play-off chasers. The view is the new year could reveal their best, with Fatawu's audacity applauded.

Norwich beat Southampton 2-1 for back-to-back home wins. A disappointing campaign has steadied under Philippe Clement, with two wins, two draws and two defeats, and successive victories at Carrow Road. They are three points from safety and must build on this lifeline.

Bolton's 2-1 win at Exeter made it seven unbeaten. The Toughsheet Community Stadium is a fortress, the division's only unbeaten home record, with just five league goals conceded and the longest home streak in the top four tiers. A solid Christmas could set up a charge.

Swindon are third, two points off leaders Walsall, after a 3-0 win over Bristol Rovers. Ian Holloway took over in October 2024 with the club in the relegation zone, kept them up, and now has them chasing automatic promotion.

Source: BBC UK