2019-20 Sky Bet Championship: Week 35 – Wednesday

Relegation battling Middlesbrough face a tough test as they welcome promotion challengers – Leeds United to the Riverside Stadium. 

Middlesbrough need a win in order to potentially move six points clear of the relegation zone, whereas Leeds look to reduce their seven point deficit to West Brom back down to four points.

 

Team news

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Middlesbrough have no fresh injury concerns from Saturday’s defeat at Barnsley as Anfernee Dijksteel prepares to step up his recovery with an U23s appearance on Friday. 

Patrick Roberts (hamstring), Daniel Ayala (ankle) and Dael Fry (thigh) are all sidelined for at least the next few weeks. 

Leeds could be without Kalvin Phillips due to a dead calf picked up during Saturday’s 1-0 home win over Reading. 

Helder Costa and Patrick Bamford both suffered knocks in that match but are expected to be available for selection. 

 

Form

Boro come into this match without a win in their last ten games in all competitions (D5, L5), whilst scoring in four of their last five home outings which was ended by Luton in their last home match. 

Leeds enter this game with seven points from their last three outings (W2, D1) after winning just one of their previous five beforehand, although they have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last seven away trips in all competitions. 

 

Stat Attack

• Middlesbrough have won just one of their last six league meetings against Leeds United (W1, D3, L2). 
• Leeds have won just one of their last six trips to the Riverside Stadium (W1, D2, L3). 
• Just one of the last six goals scored in this fixture hasn’t been scored by a midfielder, courtesy of Patrick Bamford during Leeds’ 4-0 win over Boro in November 2019. 

 

Prediction

Middlesbrough have to raise their game here because momentary lapses of focus has cost them results in recent games, and any mistakes against Leeds are likely to be punished if not careful. 

Leeds meanwhile are digging deep against recent teams who have played on the defensive against them, which is surely going to be a concern for the Teesside club who press well but have lost their end product lately. 

This fixture however is usually scheduled on weekends so I do expect rotation from both teams, although it is hard to see Leeds not winning comfortably here if they press Boro hard enough.

Prediction: Middlesbrough 0-2 Leeds United

Result: Middlesbrough 0-1 Leeds United