Middlesbrough ‘totally different’ as Preston boss highlights big Rob Edwards change

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The true extent of the impact Rob Edwards has made at Championship pacesetters Rob Edwards certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed by Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom.

That Doncaster Rovers debacle in the EFL Cup aside, Edwards could hardly have made a better start to life on the banks of the Tees.

Middlesbrough travel to Preston North End on the back of four successive league wins.

Boro were ‘miles ahead’ of Sheffield United last time out – the 1-0 scoreline hardly reflective of a dominant display against the recent play-off finalists – and Heckingbottom knows his Lilywhites side will have to be at the top of their game if Preston are to break their rivals’ 100 per cent record.

Paul Heckingbottom highlights the chances Rob Edwards has made to Middlesbrough

Rob Edwards claimed the Manager of the Month award on Friday, fighting off competition from Frank Lampard, Mark Robins and Ryan Mason.

And Heckingbottom, who would surely have been in contention too if not for that narrow defeat by Portsmouth before the international break, believes Edwards’ impact is best demonstrated by the new-found flexibility of Boro’s forward play.

“[Middlesbrough have] the same qualities as last season, in terms of players obviously. But a different [approach],” the former Leeds and Sheffield United boss explains.

“[They are playing with] a totally different set-up really, and the stats would say that.”

Only Bristol City and a Coventry side who entered seventh heaven in that brutal dismantling of Queens Park Rangers have scored more than Middlesbrough’s seven goals so far.

Despite that, their possession average has dropped substantially, from 55 per cent to 48. And while Boro finished bottom last season for set-piece goals with eight, they currently sit joint-third in the same department.

Preston North End boss says Boro are ‘less reliant’ on Michael Carrick-style approach

While Michael Carrick’s team occasionally produced some exhilarating football, Edwards appears to be pushing Middlesbrough towards a more adaptable, less one-dimensional approach. They are sharing the goals around, too.

Tommy Conway is ‘ready’ to step up at the Riverside – he has two in his last two appearances – but it should serve Boro well not relying upon a single talismanic goalscorer, a la Emmanuel Latte Lath or Chuba Akpom.

“I know they’ve not lost any quality with the ball because I know the players that they’ve got,” adds Heckingbottom. “But they’ve been less reliant on just cutting teams open and creating lots of chances to win games.

“They’re not up there for the amount of shots and chances created as such, you know. They’ve been very clinical, won games in different ways and the defending has been very very good as well. They’re up there for one of the most frugal defensive teams as well.

“So you can certainly see the impact that Rob’s had since he’s gone there. And yeah, top of the league, four real strong performances, four wins, it’s going to be a good game.”

Edwards predicts a tough test after Ipswich and Leicester lost at Deepdale

Middlesbrough have not conceded a single goal yet in 2025/26.

Sporting director Kieran Scott has applauded Alfie Jones’ form in a Middlesbrough shirt, feeling that his £3 million arrival from Hull City has comfortably offset the loss of Rav van den Berg. Jones is likely to start again alongside Dael Fry and Luke Ayling in Edwards’ back three.

And, as EFL pundit David Prutton predicts a tight 1-1 draw at Deepdale, Edwards is certainly not taking the threat of Preston lightly.

“It’s a really difficult place to go,” Edwards tells Teeside Live. “They’ve had a very good start. Look at the teams they’ve beaten at home already, Ipswich and Leicester, two teams who’ll be up there at the end of the season. They’ll be confident.

“It will be a really good occasion. We’re taking 5,600 fans which will be incredible. Big thank you to our supporters. They’ll be making it especially loud. I think it will be a great game and great atmosphere. Hopefully we come out on top.

“Preston have scored some really good counter-attacking goals, fast attacks, very ruthless. They have a couple of attackers they’ll look for very quickly so involved in those fast attacks they have two very effective strikers who are physical and quick.

“There’s real speed in transition, they’re very strong in set piece situations and they can play. They have lots of strong attributes.”