Mike Pejic watched Middlesbrough's recent win at Stoke City in awe at the tactics of Kim Hellberg's side

Former Stoke City and England defender Mike Pejic has described how he was left transfixed by Middlesbrough recently, as he offered a fascinating tactical analysis of Kim Hellberg’s side.

The left-back, who also had spells with Everton and Aston Villa, watched on as Boro beat Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium a fortnight ago, with a dramatic late goal sealing a 3-2 win.

Picking up four points from the subsequent games against Cardiff City and Bolton Wanderers, Boro now sit top of the Championship.

Bolton boss Steven Schumacher was highly complimentary of Boro after Friday’s 5-1 victory, describing them as a really well coached side who are difficult to set up against. Stoke boss Mark Robins echoed similar thoughts after the aforementioned win over the Potters.

After last season’s struggles towards the end of last season, Hellberg has worked hard to make Boro tougher to predict. So what makes them so fascinating for an ex-footballer to watch, and so difficult for coaches to work out?

In his column for our sister site the Stoke Sentinel, Pejic explained: “You normally see a 3-2 match described as a thriller but I thought Stoke City’s game on Tuesday night was fascinating.

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“The tactics were really interesting and I sat transfixed and watched and tried to work out just how Middlesbrough were playing.

“They were very brave in the way they played, their system and the way they went about their business with no fear.

“They were full of confidence against a Stoke team that had won five and drawn one of the previous six. It was commendable.

“Stoke have been on a great run, we were at home and for a team to come and do what they did you have to give them credit.

“Stoke stuck in there too and it was a good game to be at, a good game to study – and I don’t think any other team will do what Middlesbrough did this season.

“It might say on paper that Middlesbrough were using a 3-4-2-1 formation but in reality it looked like a 1-8-1.

“It was so difficult for Stoke to gain control in midfield – and over the last few weeks we have been saying just how good Stoke have been in that area with Djibril Soumare and Ethan Galbraith.

“Middlesbrough’s back three on the teamsheet said Adilson Malanda, Ashley Phillips and Luke Ayling, but Malanda and Ayling pushed into midfield when they were out of possession and overloaded that area along with Brittain, Morris, Sarmiento, Borges, Berhalter and Cozier-Duberry.

“The trick of it was that they left one up front, Lankshear, and defended as a pack in the mid and defensive thirds.

“Stoke found it really hard to get any kind of control in two thirds of the pitch. I haven’t seen a team do that for many a while.

“I found the whole game really interesting from a tactical perspective. It was great to see those manoeuvres in the second division.”