Can Edwards match the flying starters?

MIDDLESBROUGH'S previous two head coaches have hit the ground running on their arrival on Teesside. Can Rob Edwards notch a welcome treble?

- ERIC PAYLOR

Both Michael Carrick and Chris Wilder won seven of their opening ten Championship games after taking up the reins at the Riverside.

Edwards is expected to make major changes to the squad next month, yet Carrick did it without bringing in any new faces.

He arrived towards the end of October and inherited a Wilder squad which was starting to tread water in the league, having won just two of its last eight games.

Carrick lost his first match 2-1 at Preston North End but otherwise wasted no time in making an impression in the dressing room. He quickly lifted everyone's spirits.

Yet most of the fingers will be pointed to the magnificent job he did with Chuba Akpom, converting him from an orthodox striker to a No.10 and virtually creating a new top quality player overnight.

To take Boro into the playoffs in a season in charge short of the first three months was nothing but remarkable.

Carrick’s achievement proved what can be done with a bit of tinkering, but largely by creating a new self belief within the squad.

Unfortunately it wasn’t to last.

As we saw last season, there were several players who finished the campaign with their chins on the ground.

However, it was totally different at the start as Carrick won seven, drew one and lost two of his opening ten.

We tend to look back at the Wilder era and dismiss it as a bit of a failure, yet incredibly Wilder fared even better than Carrick in his opening ten.

He won seven, drew two and lost one, the only defeat coming in his second match away to - yes, you've guessed it - Preston North End of course!