Kim Hellberg addresses Middlesbrough set-pieces as stats reveal major weakness

Kim Hellberg insists he isn’t worried by Middlesbrough’s set-piece defending, but has assured fans they will be working on it as per usual ahead of this weekend’s huge clash with Ipswich Town.

Boro are enduring a six-game winless run at the worst possible point of the campaign, slipping to fifth in the table and leaving their automatic promotion hopes in ruins. However, they can inject new life into their season this Sunday, when they travel to second-place Ipswich Town, with the two separated by just three points in the table - the Tractor Boys holding a game in hand.

Boro have conceded from corners in three of their last five matches, including Conor Chaplin’s 97th-minute winner for relegation-battling Portsmouth at the Riverside Stadium last Saturday. Boro also fell to set-pieces for Josh Coburn’s first strike in the 2-1 defeat to Millwall, and Adam Randell’s late equaliser for Bristol City at home in March.

Kim Hellberg addresses worrying Middlesbrough set-piece trend

Chaplin’s goal leaves Boro on 15 set-piece goals conceded in the Championship so far this season, according to WhoScored, which is the sixth-highest amount in the division and accounts for almost 36% of their total goals conceded (42).

At the other end, Boro have scored just 13 set-piece goals, which is the sixth-lowest amount and just under 21% of their total goals scored (62).

However, Hellberg has actually given a positive verdict on his side’s dead-ball capabilities, claiming that Chaplin’s goal, especially, came via a bit of good fortune for the Pompey forward. "There always is some,” the Swedish coach responded (via Gazette Live) when asked if set-pieces would be a focus in training during the week.

He continued: “We've been very good offensively at set pieces, creating loads of opportunities. "And, in many ways, we defended the set pieces quite well too. Even the one they score (against Portsmouth). It goes out, he shoots on the bounce, quite a poor shot, but it twists.

"But I think if you look at the game, we have four or five exactly the same touches, but for the moment, nothing is falling to us. That is not just luck, that is also quality, to be fair. We have to look at and work on that."

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