Middlesbrough‘s Strelac Impacts Dominant Win, New Coach Highlights Prior Slovan Analysis
MIDDLESBROUGH, England – Dávid Strelac played a pivotal role in Middlesbrough’s 4-1 victory over Hull City on December 16, 2023, contributing to both the first and second goals despite limited overall touches. The Slovak striker, operating as the highest-ranked player in Middlesbrough’s attack, demonstrated a knack for finding optimal scoring positions and creating opportunities for teammates.
The win underscored a positive shift for Strelac under new coach Kim Hellberg, who revealed he meticulously studied footage of the player’s goals from his time at Slovan Bratislava. “I really like the cooperation between Dávid strelac and Tommy Conway.The first goal set the tone for the game. It was fantastic,” commented former Middlesbrough player Neil Maddison to BBC Sport. Hellberg himself stated, “We played amazing attacking football. The first half, in terms of our courage and the quality we had, was amazing to watch.”
Strelac chased down a Hull City defender in the 32nd minute, forcing a kick that landed directly to Tommy Conway, who passed to Alex Gilbert for Middlesbrough’s opening goal. He then won the ball leading to the team’s second. Despite only three goal touches with the ball throughout the match – two goals scored with his right foot from three attempts – statistics from SofaScore show his effectiveness.
Local experts suggest Hellberg’s coaching style is a better fit for Strelac’s offensive strengths. Strelac has two goals this year,requiring seventeen shooting attempts to achieve them. His limited touches (three total) highlight his ability to maximize impact with minimal possession, excelling in positioning and opportunity creation.
