Middlesbrough meet Norwich at Riverside Stadium in a huge Sky Bet Championship clash.
Victory would see Boro climb to third in the table, whilst Norwich can go fifth with a win before their play-off chasing rivals all play on Saturday.
Team News
Dael Fry is a doubt for Middlesbrough after he missed their 2-2 draw at Bristol City on Easter Monday, due to ankle and Achilles injuries.
Matt Clarke (back) and Sonny Finch (unspecified) remain absent.
Norwich have no fresh injury conerns to report following their goalless draw at home to Rotherham on Easter Monday.
Jonathan Rowe and Marcelino Nunez remain absent with ankle injuries, although the pair are both nearing a first-team return.
When is Kick-Off?
Middlesbrough host Norwich at 8pm BST on Friday 14 April at Riverside Stadium, live on Sky Sports Main Event in UK.
Stat Attack
- Middlesbrough have claimed just four points from their last seven regular-season meetings against Norwich (W1, D1, L5).
- Norwich are unbeaten in four of their last five visits to Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium (W3, D1, L1).
- Each of Middlesbrough’s last five defeats against Norwich were by 1-0 results.
- Four of Chuba Akpom’s 26 league goals for Boro this season were scored from the penalty spot.
- Three of Josh Sargent’s 11 league goals for Norwich were scored away from home this season.
Prediction
Having seen their automatic promotion dreams all but fizzle out with no wins in their last three matches, Middlesbrough now need to find a win to avoid the risk of being dragged right back into a huge dogfight for a play-off spot.
Manager, Michael Carrick though will be buoyed by how his team responded to going two goals down at Bristol City to snatch a draw, although their end product did lack the accurate final touch whilst marking lacked its usual tight intensity.
Norwich meanwhile missed a huge chance to go into the play-off spots because they too had their own end product issues, yet did well to cling on for a goalless draw against Rotherham but they have to start taking wins to boost their top-six ambitions.
This clash therefore feels like it could be close but if Boro can take heart from their Easter Monday comeback and tidy up in both their attack and defence, I fancy them to have the edge here but Norwich will certainly push them to the final whistle.
Prediction: Middlesbrough 2-1 Norwich
Result: Middlesbrough 5-1 Norwich
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