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Middlesbrough travel to Preston North End this weekend and they have the chance to become the second team in history to achieve a rare Championship feat.
Rob Edwards has got off to a flying start as Michael Carrick’s replacement. Boro sit top of the table after winning their four opening league games, scoring seven goals and only conceding one.
The former Premier League club lost Finn Azaz to Southampton this summer, but have made smart recruitments, including Manchester City’s Sverre Nypan.
Boro can make it five wins out of five if they win at Deepdale on Saturday – and they’ll join an exclusive club if they do so.
Rob Edwards’ Middlesbrough can become second team in Championship history to win opening five matches
Since the second tier was rebranded as the Championship for the 2004/05 season, only one team has won their opening five second tier fixtures.
That was Cardiff City in the 2017/18 season. They ended up winning automatic promotion, coming second behind Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Boro have seen off Swansea City, Doncaster Rovers, Millwall, Norwich City and Sheffield United so far, and if they can beat Preston, they will join that Cardiff side in winning five opening Championship fixtures.
However, they will be hoping their recent record at Deepdale won’t stand in their way.
Deepdale is Middlesbrough’s bogey ground
Boro haven’t won at Preston since New Year’s Day 2020. That came in the form of a 2-0 win in the Championship, with Rudy Gestede and Ashley Fletcher getting on the scoresheet.
In their subsequent five visits to Deepdale, Boro have lost every game, with Preston managing an aggregate score of 13-4.
If the Teesside club do manage to get a win at the weekend, this will be a good omen for Edwards and co.’s season.
5,600 Boro fans will be in the away end for the early kick-off in Lancashire.