Edwards rings clever tactical changes as well as utilising the quality of his squad to bring about another vital result

NOT for the first time this season, we're talking about Rob Edwards’ changes and how they’ve influenced a game for Middlesbrough.

- By CRAIG JOHNS

We're only seven games in but it’s already a positive theme of the Championship campaign.

Kaly Sene’s second goal in successive games from the bench earned Boro a hard-fought point against a promotion favourite in Southampton. And as yet another Edwards change made the difference, it’s hard not to appreciate his golden touch right now. He and his coaching team seem to get it right time and again. Yet he’s keen to deflect.

“That's not me, that’s the players,” he insisted after. “They're coming on and making the impact. Our job is to try and make the right calls. But it’s the lads who make the difference.”

It’s a fair point, but Edwards and his team deserve much credit. And the impact of the changes are accentuated because of the long-held frustrations of Michael Carrick’s in-game management last term.

That Edwards shows consistent signs of being so proactive, and is ultimately getting those decisions right to help earn his side points, is exactly why Boro officials felt the need for change. It might not always pay off as it is right now, but we should certainly enjoy it while it is.

Boro were far from at their best on the south coast and were fortunate to get in unscathed at halftime after gifting numerous opportunities.