Aitor Karanka’s Birmingham City face a tricky away test as they take on his former team, Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.
Victory would see Boro climb to sixth for at least a few hours, whereas Birmingham City could climb as high as 17th with a win.
Team News
Marcus Browne is ruled out for Middlesbrough after suffering a dislocated knee during last weekend’s FA Cup exit at Brentford.
Ashley Fletcher and Jonny Howson (both hamstring) are nearing returns but Grant Hall (thigh) remains sidelined.
Birmingham have no fresh injury concerns to report after last Sunday’s FA Cup exit at Manchester City, with a full squad available for selection in this match.
Stat Attack
- Middlesbrough have lost just one of their last 13 meetings against Birmingham City (W7, D5, L1).
- Birmingham City are winless in their last six league trips to Teesside (D2, L4).
- Duncan Watmore has netted twice in two of Boro’s last three home games.
- Birmingham have failed to score in five of their last seven matches in all competitions (D1, L6).
- Boro have kept clean sheets in six of their ten home league games so far this season.
Prediction
Middlesbrough will be slightly disappointed to be out of the FA Cup but given the cramped scheduling of this season and their current position, this is a huge chance for them to pull closer towards the promotion fight given their impressive home form.
Birmingham just look like they’re in freefall with six defeats in their last seven matches across all competitions, which is a real defensive worry for Karanka because he might be a good manager but not even he seems capable of snapping the team’s slide and particularly against his former team.
My gut instinct therefore says a Boro win with a clean sheet but the question is a case of how many goals can they score, because if can get on the front foot quickly in terms of hassling Birmingham’s defence then they could run riot otherwise this could be a simple routine win.
Prediction: Middlesbrough 2-0 Birmingham City
Result: Middlesbrough 0-1 Birmingham City