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Kim Hellberg left Hammarby in November to join Boro Kim Hellberg's perfect start as Middlesbrough boss continued with a 2-1 Championship win over Charlton Athletic at The Valley. First-half goals from Riley Mc Gree and Morgan Whittaker were enough on a mostly comfortable evening for Boro, who moved within five points of leaders Coventry. George Edmundson's own goal halved the deficit nine minutes from time but Boro held on for Hellberg's third win since replacing Rob Edwards last month. Boro's Hayden Hackney forced Addicks keeper Thomas Kaminski into a fine save inside three minutes with a wonderful curling effort from the edge of the area before Sonny Carey fired an effort straight at Sol Brynn at the other end. Boro piled on the pressure as the half progressed, winning the ball high up the field consistently and, moments after Kaminski denied Tommy Conway, Mc Gree fired the visitors ahead from Delano Burgzorg's cut-back. Charlton thought they should have had a penalty when Luke Berry went down in the area but the referee waved away the protests. Whittaker doubled Boro's lead on the stroke of half-time with his fifth goal in as many games, firing past Kaminski at the near post after he was found by Mc Gree on the counter attack. Kaminski kept Charlton in the game after the break by denying Mc Gree after he was fed by Burgzorg and, 10 minutes later, the Charlton keeper blocked a fizzing by-line cross from Callum Brittain. Boro keeper Brynn was called into action with 20 minutes remaining when substitute Isaac Olaofe shot high at his near post and he did well to tip it over the bar for a corner, which was cleared. The visitors continued to search for a third goal to really kill the game off and almost got it when Luke Ayling crashed a header against the bar. But Charlton made it a nervy finish when Edmundson diverted Rob Apter's cross past a helpless Brynn - and Olaofe squandered a chance to salvage a point for Charlton in stoppage time, blazing over from the edge of the area. This video can not be played Charlton manager Nathan Jones speaking to BBC Radio London: "I'm really disappointed with elements of the first half, we kept giving the ball away. "These are a good side, we were aggressive against them, we knew it would be tough, especially with what we have missing. "Overall, when we are us and we keep the ball better, we can compete with anyone in this league. Second half, I thought we were really good. "They had to change to curtail us; we scored, we had other opportunities, we should have had a penalty. We are in a tough moment, but we need to come through it. "The second goal was the killer. If it is only a one-goal lead and we equalise, I fancy us to go on and win the game. As it was they made changes and saw it out, and we probably didn't show enough quality in the final third to punish them. " This video can not be played Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg speaking to BBC Radio Tees: "The first 45 minutes was very good, away from home, playing with pace, striking the ball. We were close to creating four or five bigger chances, crosses we didn't get a head or foot on. "They came out with energy in the first 10 minutes of the second half; we regained control and it felt like we killed it off. "Of course when they scored a goal, the stadium becomes energised but I was proud of the way we defended. "The second half was not our best football, it was about killing the game off. We had fewer attacking options, they got energy. If we can take more steps we can be better on the ball; it is about being brave. "It is good to see we can play different types of football. " After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users. Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 9th December 2025 at 22: 00 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Nathan Jones Formation: 3 - 1 - 4 - 2 Manager: Kim Hellberg Formation: 4 - 4 - 2 Manager: Nathan Jones Formation: 3 - 1 - 4 - 2 Manager: Kim Hellberg Formation: 4 - 4 - 2 Championship All competitions All competitions All competitions Match ends, Charlton Athletic 1, Middlesbrough 2. Second Half ends, Charlton Athletic 1, Middlesbrough 2. Sverre Nypan (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Greg Docherty (Charlton Athletic). Foul by Kaly Sène (Middlesbrough). Lloyd Jones (Charlton Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time. Attempt missed. Isaac Olaofe (Charlton Athletic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Macaulay Gillesphey. Substitution, Middlesbrough. Kaly Sène replaces Delano Burgzorg. Offside, Charlton Athletic. Greg Docherty is caught offside. Kayne Ramsay (Charlton Athletic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Alan Browne (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the left wing. Foul by Kayne Ramsay (Charlton Athletic). Attempt blocked. Callum Brittain (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Macaulay Gillesphey. Own Goal by George Edmundson, Middlesbrough. Charlton Athletic 1, Middlesbrough 2. Luke Ayling (Middlesbrough) hits the bar with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Sverre Nypan with a cross following a set piece situation. Substitution, Charlton Athletic. Rob Apter replaces James Bree. Delano Burgzorg (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the right wing. Foul by Macaulay Gillesphey (Charlton Athletic). Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.