Burnley
Blackburn Rovers
Coventry City
Derby County
Leeds United
Luton Town
Middlesbrough
Millwall
Norwich City
Portsmouth
Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield United
QPR
Middlesbrough have enjoyed a start to the 2025/26 Championship under Rob Edwards that goes down in the club’s history.
Middlesbrough beat West Brom 2-1 on Friday evening at the Riverside Stadium to continue their unbeaten run in Rob Edwards’ maiden campaign at the helm.
David Strelec scored on his first Middlesbrough start, before Edwards raised eyebrows by withdrawing the Slovakian at half-time despite no injury issues.
Edwards explained Strelec’s substitution was a “tactical one”, and it proved to be an inspired move as replacement Kaly Sene scored to double Boro’s lead by rounding off a stunning team goal.
Aune Heggebo’s late header proved to be inconsequential to the result, which has etched Edwards’ name into Middlesbrough folklore forever.
Rob Edwards beats Middlesbrough record held by Bryan Robson
Bryan Robson is a name synonymous with both Middlesbrough and Manchester United fans for his exploits at both great clubs.
Robson featured 345 times for the Red Devils, scoring 74 goals, before moving to Middlesbrough in 1994.
“Captain Marvel” enjoyed his first venture into management as a player-manager at Middlesbrough, and then made Boro history in his debut campaign.
In the 1994/95 Championship season (then called the First Division), Middlesbrough won four and drew twice during their opening six games under Robson’s tutelage.
However, this season, Edwards has now remarkably surpassed Robson’s feat by overseeing Middlesbrough win five and draw once from their opening six games of the season for the first time in the club’s 149-year history.
| Middlesbrough’s first six games of 1994/95 | Middlesbrough’s first six games of 2025/26 |
| Boro 2 Burnley 0 | Boro 1 Swansea City 0 |
| Southend United 0 Boro 2 | Millwall 0 Boro 3 |
| Boro 1 Bolton 0 | Norwich City 1 Boro 2 |
| Derby County 0 Boro 1 | Boro 1 Sheffield United 0 |
| Watford 1 Boro 1 | Preston 2 Boro 2 |
| Boro 2 Sunderland 2 | Boro 2 West Brom 1 |
| Points earned after first six games – 14 | Points earned after first six games – 16 |
As all Middlesbrough fans will know, Robson’s dream start continued throughout the season, with his Boro side winning the Division One title to earn promotion to the Premier League.
With Edwards now enjoying Middlesbrough’s best start to a season on record following the West Brom win, surpassing Robson along the way, can he match the Man Utd legend’s unbeaten run and title victory?
- READ MORE: West Brom had already lost to Middlesbrough before kick-off after Ryan Mason’s selection error
Middlesbrough can continue unbeaten run vs Southampton
Following the Baggies victory on Friday evening, Middlesbrough visit Southampton next weekend as Edwards looks to match Robson further.
Robson’s seventh league game in charge of Boro in the 1994/95 saw his side beat West Brom 2-1, ironically the same result as Friday evening, to stretch his unbeaten start to seven.
Edwards will be hoping to follow suit at Southampton, who have struggled for form so far under summer appointment Will Still.
-
-
SouthamptonSouthampton
MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough
-
Despite Southampton’s significant summer outlay, things are not clicking so far for the Saints under Still, but their trip to Hull City on Saturday afternoon offers a chance for three points.
As Edwards hunts to extend his unbeaten run, there will be extra mettle in the clash as former Middlesbrough man Finn Azaz faces his former side for the first time since Azaz joined Southampton from Boro late in the summer window.
Inevitably, Middlesbrough will lose in the coming weeks, but Edwards and his Boro squad, buoyed by their impressive Baggies victory, will fancy their chances on the South Coast.