Middlesbrough welcome Derby County to the Riverside Stadium in a huge clash at opposite ends of Sky Bet Championship table.
Victory could put Middlesbrough as high as fifth depending on results elsewhere, whereas Derby can climb to 22nd in the table with a win if Peterborough lose elsewhere.
Team News
Martin Payero is ruled out for Middlesbrough after suffering an ankle injury in Wednesday’s 2-2 draw at QPR.
Matt Crooks (facial) is available but Sammy Ameobi, Darnell Fisher and Marc Bola all remain absent with knee injuries.
Derby will welcome Ravel Morrison back from suspension after he served the last of a three-match ban in their 3-1 midweek win against Hull.
Festy Ebosele (hamstring) is a doubt but Richard Stearman (suspension), Kamil Jozwiak (ankle) and Colin Kazim-Richards (calf) remain ruled out.
Stat Attack
- Middlesbrough have won just one of their last seven meetings against Derby (W1, D4, L2).
- Derby have won just one of their last 14 visits to Middlesbrough (W1, D3, L10).
- Both teams have scored in two of their last three clashes at Riverside Stadium, during which Boro avoided defeat in all three games (W1, D2).
- Boro have conceded just once in their last five home games – winning 2-1 against Reading in January 2021 (W5).
- Derby have conceded twice in each of their three away league games so far in 2022 (D1, L2).
Prediction
Having fought their way through two tricky away matches in the past week, Middlesbrough definitely should be full of confidence especially twice fighting from behind to draw at QPR through pure spirit and grit despite occasional loss of defensive focus which nearly proved costly.
Derby meanwhile seem to have ended their mini-rut with a ruthlessly clinical midweek win over Hull but will need their fans focused on being their 12th man to push them on here, rather than causing disorder due to a recent off-pitch dispute between the Rams and Boro.
If that is the case then expect a tough exciting open contest between two well-drilled teams with goals but having played well at Manchester United and QPR in the last week, Middlesbrough should have extra belief to continue building momentum in front of their home crowd.
Prediction: Middlesbrough 2-1 Derby
Result: Middlesbrough 4-1 Derby
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