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Football League talking points: Middlesbrough looking so strong

 Ben Gibson of Middlesbrough celebrates victory over Derby
Image: Ben Gibson celebrates Middlesbrough's win over Derby and another clean sheet

Don Goodman looks at four Football League talking points, including Middlesbrough opening up a four-point lead at the top of the Championship.

Also up for discussion are Demarai's Gray future as he looks set for a Premier League move and the challenges that face Slavisa Jokanovic at Fulham.

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Brilliant Boro

To say it has been a good few weeks for Middlesbrough would be something of an understatement.

Middlesbrough's Albert Adomah celebrates after scoring
Image: Albert Adomah scored in the win over Derby

They have beaten Burnley, Brighton, Sheffield Wednesday and, most recently, Derby, without conceding a goal, to open up a four-point lead at the top of the table. And they have a game in hand as well.

GOODMAN SAYS: "It's there for all to see. They are top of the table and nobody can seem to score against them, which is quite remarkable. They are a good team in every respect, they offer a goal threat, have two of the best midfielders in the league in Adam Clayton and Grant Leadbitter, and should either of them get injured, they have Adam Forshaw, who is more than capable, and others who can step into the breach.

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Highlights of Middlesbrough's 2-0 win against Derby

"They have everything, including strength in depth to cover any injuries or suspensions. I said back in September after seeing them beat Leeds that anybody who finishes above Middlesbrough will be automatically promoted and I stand by that.

"Aitor Karanka will know where they maybe need to improve in January but I imagine anyone coming in will not be a squad player. If they do sign anybody, I expect it to be somebody who comes straight in and is better than what they already have, which will take some doing."

Fulham need balance

Fulham's poor run of form continued at the weekend as they were beaten 1-0 at home by Sheffield Wednesday in Slavisa Jokanovic's first game in charge.

Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic (left) with assistant Stuart Gray
Image: Slavisa Jokanovic (C) took charge of Fulham for the first time on Saturday

The defeat means the Cottagers have won just one of their last 11 matches and are 19th in the Championship.

GOODMAN SAYS: "They are one of several clubs that mystify you a bit in the Championship. If you can score goals you normally have a chance; Fulham can score goals, but they can't keep them out.

"They have scored 40, the most in the division, but have conceded 43, one less than Bristol City and Rotherham, who have got the worst defences. You look at Fulham and see exactly where Jokanovic needs to start the rebuild job.

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Fulham lost at home to Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend

"He needs to get a defensive unit that stops leaking goals as regularly as they do. To be the division's top scorers and to be sitting 19th in the table, 14 points off a play-off spot, is almost unheralded. You won't find many seasons where that has happened in the past.

"It's always difficult to go get a balance. I remember Leicester under Ian Holloway going down to League One with one of the best defensive records, but they couldn't score. It's clearly an enormous problem for Fulham."

Gray's perfect fit

It looks as though Demarai Gray will be on the move this month after Birmingham accepted a bid for him from a Premier League side, believed to be Leicester.

Birmingham City's Demarai Gray gets away from Leeds United's Gaetano Berardi
Image: Demarai Gray looks set to join Leicester

The 19-year-old has featured in every one of Birmingham's 24 games in the Championship this season.

GOODMAN SAYS: "It's hard to argue against him going. He has played nearly 80 games for Birmingham, that's nearly two seasons of regular first-team football, and I think Leicester is a perfect fit. He's been playing in a Birmingham side who are very similar in terms of style of play to Leicester, in terms of the way they counter attack.

"They are one of the teams in the Championship with the least amount of possession and Leicester are the same in the Premier League. They are two teams happy to concede possession and when they get the ball they spring quickly, and that is one of Gray's attributes. He is very pacey, takes defenders on, goes both ways, which I like in young players, and he has a goal in him.

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"He may find it difficult over the next four or five months to get a regular start but he will be pushing and he is going to a club with a massive feelgood factor and a coach with a huge amount of experience. It can only be good for him and improve him.

"I do feel a bit sorry for Birmingham because they were flying earlier in the season then there was speculation about Gary Rowett being linked with Fulham and QPR which seemed to upset the apple cart and they went through a sticky patch. They have recently turned it around by winning three of their last four and all of a sudden they are losing a key player. I do feel a bit for them and I wonder how it might affect the rest of their season."

Amazing Armstrong

Adam Armstrong's fantastic season continued on Saturday as he netted a hat-trick for Coventry in their 5-0 victory over Crewe.

Coventry City's Adam Armstrong celebrates scoring his side's second goal of the game during the Sky Bet League One match at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry.
Image: Armstrong has been in fine form for Coventry

The 18-year-old striker, who is on loan from Newcastle, is the leading scorer in League One with 16 goals.

GOODMAN SAYS: "There are people out there that belittle the loan system but I think it has more positives than negatives. Players like Armstrong highlight the positive aspect.

"He wasn't good enough to get in the Newcastle first team, he was very raw. I saw him playing a Capital One Cup game last year and while he was keen and eager, the game passed him by a bit. To go out and get this experience is wonderful and to top it off by scoring this amount of goals means he will go back so confident that in the not-too-distant future he might be able to force his way into the Newcastle first team.

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Armstrong netted a hat-trick in the 5-0 victory against Crewe

"But without going away and getting the experience I don't think he would be able to. You only have to look at Harry Kane. He is the perfect example that Armstrong needs to look at. I saw Kane playing on loan at Millwall and elsewhere and you saw him grow. It wasn't an explosion like Armstrong, it was a slow, steady improvement, but now he is almost irreplaceable for Spurs, playing week in, week out, and an England regular.

"I dare to say he wouldn't have come on in the same way had he not had the loan spells. Coventry are lucky to have Armstrong and he is firing them to a promotion challenge."

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