Luke Ayling understands that there is still room for growth, but he believes Middlesbrough’s season has started well for two reasons.
Borough enter the first international break in joint second place in the division, having lost only one of their first eight games following Saturday’s draw at Birmingham City.
The results have been generally favourable, but there are still aspects of Boro’s game that need to be improved during the international break.
But, like Kim Hellberg, Borough captain Ayling cited the fact that 12 new players joined this summer as one reason why there’s no need to worry, and why results are so fantastic.
The experienced defender also cited Boro’s play-off final defeat, as well as the fact that there has been no hangover, as reasons to be optimistic about the season’s start.
When asked about the start of the season, Ayling told BBC Tees: “Good. We had a lot of changes over the summer, with 12 or 13 new players joining.
“We had the play-off final loss, which shortens the summer, so getting over that and then returning is always difficult, but I believe we’ve struck the ground running.
“With 12 or 13 players coming in, there will always be a slow start. But putting 15 points on the board after eight games, when we’ve faced a bunch of top-10 teams, feels good.
“But we can do better and there’s still better to come.”
While Borough have achieved successes and begun brightly, there is widespread recognition that they need to tighten up at the back.
Birmingham’s second goal on Saturday came from set-pieces, which have been a particular weakness.
“Yes, we work on it every week, but it hasn’t been good enough,” Ayling said. “It’s not what we want to put on the pitch after all of our hard work on the training ground.
“It all boils down to initial contact. Millwall’s first three interactions are in the box. I thought we did okay at corners today because they’re a large team, but on that one, we let the tiniest player on the pitch come around the back and head it back across. “We will keep working on it.”
On the plus side, Borough averted defeat at Birmingham, which means they have only lost one of their first eight league games.
To earn the draw, Max Arfsten and Adilson Malanda scored their first goals for the club, much to the satisfaction of their captain.
He said, “It’s fantastic for Max to get on the scoresheet; he adds so much value to the team. He is two-footed. He arrived late in preseason but has settled in well; I’m excited for him.
“I’m excited for Adi to get his first goal, too. He’s been unbelievable since he arrived in January. He came off a full season, came in right away, and played every game for us last season.
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