Championship leaders, West Bromwich Albion face a tough test as they visit Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.
Boro need a win to realistically avoid slipping into the relegation zone in the event that Huddersfield and Reading both take victory elsewhere, whilstWest Brom will stay top if they take all three points.
Team news
Hayden Coulson is once again absent for Middlesbrough as he continues to rebuild his match fitness, following a lengthy thigh injury.
Rudy Gestede is also sidelined as he recovers from a hamstring injury but Darren Randolph, Paddy McNair and George Saville are all available after returning from international duty without injury.
West Brom are without defender, Kieran Gibbs who has suffered a broken toe in training and could be ruled out for at least the next three weeks.
Kenneth Zohore (calf) is another absentee as Ahmed Hegazi looks to make his first start of the season after recent injury woes.
Grady Diangana is also fit to start after recovering from a knock to his calf in the Baggies’ last outing against Cardiff.
Form
Middlesbrough have taken just one point from their last four games but have scored in each of their last five home matches, in which they earned eight points.
West Brom have suffered just one defeat in their opening 11 league games, which came in their last away trip to Leeds and marks the only time in which they failed to take a win in their last four outings.
Stat Attack
- Middlesbrough are unbeaten in four of their last five meetings with West Brom in all competitions (W2, D2, L1).
- Middlesbrough’s last five goals against the Baggies have come from four different goal scorers, with Britt Assombalonga the only player to score twice as he helped Boro win 3-2 at the Hawthorns in February.
- Boro last did the calendar year double over West Brom in 1994, when they won 3-0 in March then 2-1 in September of that year.
- West Brom’s Matt Phillips has matched his tally of four goals in their opening 11 games from last season, but is currently their joint top goalscorer alongside Grady Diangana this season.
- Boro’s haul of 10 points after 11 league games is their worst start to any season this decade.
Prediction
Middlesbrough have had a sluggish start to the season but now need to start stepping things up because I genuinely do worry that they could in relegation trouble if those below them can find some form.
West Brom meanwhile has quietly risen to the top whilst adjusting to Slaven Bilic’s impressive style suiting their qualities, which is a concern because if they can quickly get on top of Boro then this could be one way traffic.
Boro’s home form however is keeping them afloat so I can see them giving West Brom a good fight if they turn up, although the Baggies currently have the better quality and confidence to pull through this encounter.
Prediction: Middlesbrough 1-2 West Brom
Result: Middlesbrough 0-1 West Brom