How Kim Hellberg & Adi Viveash prepared for Middlesbrough’s win v Sheffield United will surprise some | OneFootball

Kim Hellberg and his staff spent Thursday night away from the football and at the darts in Newcastle

Middlesbrough won their sixth game in a row on Monday night at Sheffield United to go top of the Championship.

It punctuated what has been an incredible turnaround in the title race, as, at the start of December, many were tipping Coventry City to be the runaway leaders, with the intriguing promotion battle centered on who would finish as runners-up.

But, barring a small slump over the Christmas and New Year period, where Boro didn't score for four games, Kim Hellberg's side have been flawless, and have all the momentum in the world going into next Monday's mammoth clash at the home of the former leaders.

The Boro boss comes across as incredibly focused and demanding of his players, and usually those types of managers live and breathe football, with little room for much else outside of it.

However, not for Hellberg, who is still settling into life in England after moving from Swedish side Hammarby last November, and in the days leading up to the win at Bramall Lane, the 38-year-old took in some darts action in Newcastle.

How Kim Hellberg spent his downtime ahead of sixth straight Middlesbrough win

With the Boro boss surpassing two months in his new job towards the back end of January, there are still plenty of different aspects of English culture that he's yet to experience — on Thursday night, he ticked off an evening at the darts.

In a piece detailing Kim Hellberg's life as Middlesbrough head coach by the Northern Echo, it was revealed that the Boro boss, alongside assistant manager Adi Viveash and other members of his coaching staff, were present at the Premier League of Darts' opening night at Newcastle on Thursday.

"It was Newcastle on Thursday night for Hellberg," wrote the Northern Echo. "A night at the Premier League darts alongside club staff and assistant head coach Adi Viveash.

"Watching the likes of Luke Littler and Gian van Veen in the flesh might tempt Hellberg into trying to take in Boro's players on the board that's up in the first team dressing room at Rockliffe. Matt Targett is said to be the best player."

Whether his attendance was a simple case of staff bonding, the opportunity to take in a different sport that's growing in popularity, or even to get clued up so he could take down the on-loan Newcastle United defender in training, Hellberg would have left entertained.

Or perhaps the 38-year-old is already a big darting fan, and would have been pleased to see Michael van Gerwen return to winning ways in the 16-week showcase, after winning no nights last year.

Either way, it proved good preparation ahead of a big night at Bramall Lane on Monday, as he oversaw his side regain their place at the top of the Championship summit for the first time since October.

Middlesbrough's Premier League ambitions grew following sixth straight win

Week by week, many critics tipped Ipswich Town and Coventry to pull away in the promotion race, but Middlesbrough have more than held their own, and heading into the final 15 games of the season, are actually the form team ahead of their two direct rivals.

Boro haven't been this close to the top flight in a decade, and with hard-fought away wins paired with dominant home displays throughout the infancy of 2026, many are starting to believe that a first Premier League campaign since 2016/17 may be on the cards.

And if Kim Hellberg's side can win away from home again at the side with the best record in front of their fans on Monday, and deal Coventry only their second defeat at the CBS Arena this season, a five-point gap will be opened, and there'll be some breathing room ahead of the run-in.

Hellberg enjoyed some Darting Premier League action on Thursday night, and it may not be long until he's watching his side playing Premier League football, too.