Lankshear’s double keeps Boro top, with new faces upstairs and a busy week ahead

Sunday 1 November 2026 · By Owen Pritchard

Middlesbrough stayed top of the Championship on Saturday with a 3–0 win over Charlton at the Riverside. Sebastian Berhalter opened the scoring after 12 minutes, and Will Lankshear added two goals, one just before half-time and the other eight minutes from time.

That takes Lankshear to 13 league goals, which tops the scoring chart, and 15 in all competitions. Boro are on 28 points from 13 games, two clear of Swansea, with only one defeat all season. They have taken 17 points from a possible 21 at home.

Kim Hellberg was relaxed about the performance rather than gushing. He called 3–0 a “fair” result, said Boro were “maybe not at our best”, and was clear about the aim: “I want to finish first or second of course.” There was a brief scare when Lankshear went off holding his hamstring, but Hellberg said it was cramp.

Charlton’s Nathan Jones, who lost 3–0, said his side “were in it” and blamed “really poor goals”.

There was also movement off the pitch. BBC Sport reported that Kieran Scott, the head of football, and Chris Jones, the head of recruitment, have signed long-term contracts, and that Paul Watson has been appointed chief technical officer after leaving Brentford.

The table is tight behind them. Swansea are second on 26, Wolves and West Brom third and fourth on 24, and Southampton, Birmingham and Stoke are all on 23, so a slip would be punished quickly.

Next up are two away games in four days. Boro are at Wrexham on Wednesday 4 November (kick-off 19:45 GMT) and at Watford on Saturday 7 November (15:00 GMT). Then comes the November international break.

Riverside Stadium

Riverside Stadium has been Middlesbrough’s home since 1995, a purpose-built all-seater bowl on the banks of the Tees. Capacity is about 34,742. For visiting supporters the ground is straightforward: modern, compact, and generally well run. Views are unobstructed from almost every seat, and the away allocation sits along the touchline rather than behind a goal.

Away fans are housed in the south-east of the East Stand, towards the South Stand end, entered through turnstiles 53 to 61. A typical allocation is around 3,000 to 3,500. The East Stand faces the main West Stand, so you look across the pitch at the tunnel, dugouts and hospitality. The north goal sits in front of the North Stand (the vocal home end, often called the New Holgate End). The south goal sits in front of the South Stand, now used by home fans including the Red Faction. Do not expect to be behind either goal unless the club has varied the allocation for a particular fixture.

Turnstiles usually open 90 minutes before afternoon kick-offs and around 6.30pm for evening games. Tickets are scanned electronically. Stewards search bags; leave pyrotechnics, bottles and anything on the club’s prohibited list at home. Ground regulations are posted at the gates and on mfc.co.uk. Once inside, the concourse is roomy enough, with TVs, toilets and a bookmaker. Food is standard football fare plus the local oddity, a parmo in a bun. Cashless payment is common, so take a card.

The stadium postcode is TS3 6RS. By train, Middlesbrough station is a 15–20 minute walk. Follow signs through town towards Middlehaven and the river. By car, the A66 is the main approach from every direction. On-site parking is limited and usually permit-only; book through the ticket office if spaces are released. Many away coaches use the signed coach route along the riverside. Private unofficial car parks sit on waste ground near the river; they are cheap but slow to leave after full time. Town-centre long-stay parks add a 15–20 minute walk and avoid the worst of the post-match jam. Matchday road closures protect pedestrians around kick-off and full time.

Pubs immediately beside the ground lean home. A safer plan is to drink in the town centre, then walk over with time to spare. Atmosphere inside is decent without being hostile on most Championship afternoons; derbies and cup nights are louder. The North Stand drives the noise behind the far goal. Your section looks along the pitch, so you see both goals clearly and the movement of play from a proper side-on angle.

Seats are plastic and reasonably spaced for a 1990s bowl. The rake is good. There are no old pillars in the away corner. Giant screens sit in the south-east area, so a handful of high seats can catch a sliver of screen rather than a blocked pitch. If you have restricted mobility, contact the club in advance; accessible bays are spread across the site car parks and stewards can advise on the nearest gate.

After the match, give the crowd ten or fifteen minutes if you parked riverside. The walk back to the station is simple in daylight and well used after night games. Check the club site before you travel: allocations, kick-off times and turnstile numbers can shift for high-demand fixtures. Arrive early, keep your ticket handy, and you should have a clean, clear view of Boro’s home from the correct side of the East Stand.