Middlesbrough welcome Millwall to the Riverside Stadium in a huge clash in the race for Sky Bet Championship play-offs.
With both teams entering this match locked on 39 points apiece, victory would see either team go as high as third if Blackburn and Watford both lose elsewhere.
Team News
Darragh Lenihan remains ruled out for Middlesbrough with a foot injury which forced him to miss their FA Cup mauling at home to Brighton last weekend.
Marc Bola (ankle) is a doubt but Anfernee Dijksteel (knee) and Matthew Clarke (back) both remain absent.
Millwall could be without Callum Styles after he missed their FA Cup exit against Sheffield United last weekend with an ankle injury.
Jake Cooper and Zian Flemming are amongst a host of senior regulars looking for a recall to the starting line-up but Scott Malone (foot) and Tyler Burey (hip) are both ruled out.
Stat Attack
- Middlesbrough are unbeaten in four of their last six meetings against Millwall (W2, D2, L2).
- Millwall are winless in their last six visits to Riverside Stadium (D3, L3), in which all three recent draws finished 1-1.
- Boro have scored just one goal in their last four meetings against Millwall, albeit at home in a 1-1 draw in November 2021 with the other three meetings all played away at Millwall.
- Chuba Akpom has scored six goals in Boro’s last six matches at home in all competitions (W2, D1, L1).
- Six of Zian Flemming’s 10 league goals for Millwall this season have been scored away from home.
Prediction
Although Boro are coming into this match off the back of a demoralising defensive demolition by Brighton in the FA Cup, this is the perfect chance to reset as long as they avoid the same defensive performance which the Seagulls ruthlessly punished
Millwall meanwhile rested several regulars for their FA Cup loss to Sheffield Utd and now can commit fully to a play-off push like Boro, so I do expect Gary Rowett’s Lions to come out fighting with a much sharper performance as saw in their win against Rotherham two weeks ago.
This clash therefore is a game which ultimately could prove crucial come May if the play-off race is incredibly tight at the finish of regular season, but I do expect Middlesbrough to have the edge here because they will be pumped up to get a win to atone for their disastrous FA Cup display.
Prediction: Middlesbrough 2-1 Millwall
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