The talking points and take aways after Middlesbrough's 5-1 victory over Bolton Wanderers

When Middlesbrough play like they did against Bolton Wanderers, they’re a joy to watch.

After the 5-1 victory over Bolton, boss Steven Schumacher said they’re the best team his side have played this season - which is some praise from a boss whose side have already played Wolves, West Ham and Southampton.

The football Boro played at the Toughsheet Community Stadium was scintillating. They added a ruthless streak to stylish play to run out such comprehensive winners.

And yet, despite the scoreline, this still wasn’t what you’d necessarily call as straightforward a victory as the scoreline might suggest.

Ahead of the game, Boro boss Kim Hellberg spoke about his principles of football, and how he wants his side to look.

It might not always be a comfortable watch, he admitted, but boy will it be entertaining. That’s exactly what Boro were on Friday evening in Lancashire. This was ‘Hellball’ at its most thrilling and brilliantly-flawed best.

Make sure you never miss the latest Middlesbrough news and opinion by making Teesside Live one of your Google preferred sources.

The liquid football with finesse and purpose throughout their attacks, the clinical finishing that could have been even better but for an inspired Gavin Bazunu performance, and the fluidity of the movement and positioning of players throughout. Boro are being coached by an elite tactician.

All that said, the flaw in Hellberg comes in the form of their aggression and positivity leaving them wide open at the back.

The high defensive line with space in behind meant that at 1-0, and then again early in the second half at 3-1, Bolton found their own gaps in Boro’s defence. They had plenty of openings and chances, and just lacked the same killer edge as their visitors on the evening.

Boro like to keep the ball, be aggressive and attack in numbers. When it comes off, you see a night like Friday at Bolton. In many respects, it felt like a win of such magnitude had been coming.

And that is the flawed brilliance of ‘Hellball. They will concede chances, but Hellberg is fine with that. They key is instilling the confidence in the players to accept the gaps are there, not be flustered by it, and instead trust the process.

Hellberg noted after: “I think that might be the first game we’ve played this season where we’ve won by more than one goal.

“So, I think it was good for us to get that type of win where you don't have to breathe heavily all the 95 minutes.

“I think in some games we actually maybe have been as good, but haven't taken those chances to make it an easy game that it should have maybe been. So I’m very happy to get five goals, and especially against a very good side.”

To describe it as flawed may sound like a negative, but it's not intended as one. There are parts that Hellberg will still want to improve on, but the flaw of being open is what makes 'Hellball' so thrilling to watch.

It might not always be a comfortable, but more often than not it’s very fun. Are you not entertained!?

The unsung heroes of ‘Hellball’

The attackers will undoubtedly get all the headlines after that Bolton win. Five goals and 28 efforts at goal, it was an attacking masterclass.

Given how open Boro were at times, it would be easy to be a bit critical of the defensive side of the performance.

And yet, Boro’s back four were every bit as important to Boro’s win at Bolton as the attackers who stole the show.

For all the above reasons of trusting the process, Callum Brittain, Adilson Malanda, Ashley Phillips and Neto Borges all carried out their defensive duties as well as can be hoped when your game plan allows for such gaps.

Phillips is up to speed and showing exactly why Boro wanted him this summer. Dominant in his duels, he’s also comfortable in the high line, possessing excellent pace on the half turn to ensure that, even when someone does get in behind him, he can quickly get back to recover.

Malanda, meanwhile, has a knack of winning the ball when players run at him one-vs-one, even if it looks a bit clumsy at times. His bravery with the ball, meanwhile, is pivotal to getting Boro up the pitch quickly, breaking through the press and opening the space for the transition.

The full-backs complement each other so well. Brittain’s attacking brilliance works well with Borges’ all-round selflessness. The Brazilian at times last night tucked in like a third centre-back to allow Brittain to get forward. At other times he got up the pitch to add to the attack himself.

Boro’s strongest XI

Hellberg doesn’t believe in a strongest XI. The demands of the Championship mean you have to be able to rely on way more than just 11 players.

Nevertheless, as the Boro players settle, and the fitness levels reach their peak, it does feel like a strongest XI is starting to emerge - and we saw that at Bolton.

It was the same team that started the second half against Cardiff City, and the same team that started the win over Wolves. That’s no coincidence.

With a back four suited to the way Hellberg wants his side to play, and attack full of pace, penetration and a much-missed clinical touch last season, that starting XI should be the one that starts the majority of games.

That there’s so many other good players who can step in when needed, or influence a game from the bench is just another asset for their promotion credentials.