Middlesbrough welcome Luton Town to the Riverside Stadium in a blockbuster clash in the race for Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs.
Victory would see Boro leapfrog Luton into sixth, whereas Nathan Jones’ Hatters can go sixth themselves with at least one point although a win could see them climb as high as fourth if Blackburn and QPR lose elsewhere.
Team News
Riley McGree and Aaron Connolly could return for Middlesbrough after missing their extra-time FA Cup victory over Tottenham in midweek with unspecified injuries.
Martin Payero (ankle), Sammy Ameobi and Darnell Fisher (both knee) remain ruled out.
Luton will be without Jed Steer after he suffered an Achilles injury in Wednesday’s FA Cup exit against Chelsea, meaning that Harry Isted or James Shea will start in goal.
Robert Snodgrass (fitness) could make his first start for the Hatters, whilst Henri Lansbury and Elijah Adebayo could both return from knocks.
Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu (fatigue) and Jordan Clark (leg) could also return but Sonny Bradley (hernia) remains absent.
Stat Attack
- Middlesbrough have claimed just five points from their last five meetings against Luton (W1, D2, L2).
- Luton have won just one of their last seven visits to Boro (W1, D2, L4), although they have won one of two trips to the Riverside Stadium with both clashes finishing 1-0 to the winning team (W1, L1).
- Boro are looking to win consecutive home matches against Luton in all competitions for the very first time.
- Middlesbrough have conceded one goal in three of their last four home league matches – with the exception being a 1-0 win over Coventry City in late January.
- Danny Hylton is looking to net in three consecutive league matches for Luton for the first time since a four-match scoring streak between September-October 2017 in League Two.
Prediction
Given how tight the play-off race is at present, this is a must-win match for both teams and Boro should come here high on confidence, particularly given how gritty yet clinical they were against Spurs in midweek complete with a stubborn defensive effort.
Luton meanwhile brought their A game against Chelsea in the first half with excellent pressing and finishing, yet were totally outclassed in the second half but they did well to make the Blues work for their comeback so can take heart from their display.
This game however is in the Championship so anything can happen but if Boro play like they did in midweek and Luton don’t start on the front foot, I would expect a home win but Luton are an equally good team and both clubs will rotate their squads.
I am therefore expecting a tough fight here and a draw might well be a fair result but defeat for either team could be costly come end of season.
Prediction: Middlesbrough 1-1 Luton
Result: Middlesbrough 2-0 Luton