Kim Hellberg issues clear message to Middlesbrough players - fans will love this | OneFootball

Boro reached the Championship summit on Monday night, but Kim Hellberg knows that the job isn't done yet

Middlesbrough usurped Coventry City atop the Championship on Monday night, following a sixth straight win at the hands of Sheffield United, but Boro boss Kim Hellberg isn't resting on his laurels.

Hellberg described Monday night's 2-1 win at Bramall Lane as a "big night," but, according to Teeside Live's report after the game, the main fixation is on how his side can build on this winning run and improve ahead of a massive game at Coventry City next Monday.

Boro are now two points clear of the Sky Blues, and seven ahead of third-placed Ipswich Town, albeit the Tractor Boys have a game in hand. With 15 games remaining, the Middlesbrough chief knows that there's still work to do to ensure that they stay there.

Kim Hellberg remains focused on the task at hand, despite a big step towards promotion against Sheffield United

Middlesbrough held on to a lead that they built in the first half at Bramall Lane on Monday night. In the end, Patrick Bamford's deficit-halver with just over 15 minutes left wasn't enough for the Blades to spark a real comeback.

It marked the first time that Sheffield United had lost a league game at home since November 1st, putting into further magnitude how impressive the victory was.

Now on a six-game winning run, mostly against some challenging opposition, and now top of the Championship, it would be easy for Kim Hellberg to relax, but that couldn't be further from the truth.

"The important thing is that we try to get better already tomorrow," the Boro boss said after the game, per a report from Teeside Live.

"I will let them rest on the bus back, but tomorrow we will try to get better! That's the key thing.

"We talk about it all the time. It doesn't matter if we win, lose or draw, that's the aim. Because you always have to try and do everything you can to get better, and that's what is good with this group. They all want to get better.

"It doesn't matter where we are now. They don't give out promotions now. It's just about getting better every day.

"For us, it will still be the same thing tomorrow, though — try to get better, learn from it. That's what it's all about. There's still 15 games left, so we have to go again."

Middlesbrough have a massive chance to increase the lead in the title race at Coventry City next Monday

The win at Bramall Lane has set up a truly mammoth encounter between the current top two next Monday.

Kim Hellberg credited his side's battling away performances during this run, where they travelled to Stoke City and came from behind to win, scored late to win at West Brom, after they'd battled from two down, and then last night at Sheffield United.

However, next week presents a different task against the side with the best home record in the division, with Coventry having won 11 and lost just one of their 15 games at the CBS Arena.

It'll be a Coventry side eager to bounce back and reclaim their top spot, too, and a win in that game for Frank Lampard's Sky Blues could give them the boost needed to go on a winning run akin to earlier in the season.

But on the flip side, a seventh straight win for Boro would open up a five-point gap over their nearest challengers, which, at this point in the season, and given the ruthless nature of Kim Hellberg's side recently, would be significant.

It has the makings of a season-defining matchup, and Kim Hellberg has ensured that his side are fully focused on next Monday's trip as early as when the final whistle blew at Bramall Lane last night.