Middlesbrough welcome Coventry City to the Riverside Stadium in a crunch Sky Bet Championship clash in the race for the Play-Offs.
Victory could see Middlesbrough climb to sixth depending on results elsewhere, whereas Coventry will leapfrog Boro with a win into eighth.
Team News
Folarin Balogun could start for Middlesbrough as manager – Chris Wilder considers rotating his squad, following a poor performance in Monday’s loss at Blackburn.
Marc Bola, Marcus Browne (both knee), Riley McGree and James Lea Siliki (both international duty) remain absent.
Coventry manager, Mark Robins could hand Callum O’Hare a start after the midfielder made a substitute appearance in Tuesday’s win against Stoke, having shaken off a knock which forced him to spend the first 65 minutes of the match on the bench.
Todd Kane (knee), Ian Maatsen, Liam Kelly (both hamstring), Jodi Jones (Coronavirus), Fankaty Dabo (groin) and Matty Godden (appendix) remain ruled out.
Stat Attack
- Middlesbrough have lost just two of their last six meetings against Coventry (W3, D1, L2).
- Coventry have failed to win in 11 previous visits to Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium in all competitions (D3, L8).
- Matt Crooks has been yellow-carded in three of his last four away league appearances for Boro.
- Matty Godden has scored four goals in Coventry’s last three away league matches.
Prediction
Following a frustrating away defeat at Blackburn packed with loose defending and poor finishing even when on top in attack, Middlesbrough certainly need to deliver an improved display if they’re to keep pace with their play-off rivals.
Coventry though are coming into this game off the back of a disciplined win over Stoke in which they were dominant throughout, whilst managing to not face any shots on target at their end which will give them extra belief as they chase a play-off spot.
Home advantage though should enable Boro to bounce back if they can rectify where they have gone wrong and start on the front foot, whilst Coventry will do well to get a point here at the Riverside Stadium which has been their hoodoo ground.
Prediction: Middlesbrough 1-1 Coventry