Middlesbrough entertain Burnley in the Championship’s curtain closer on 2024.
Should Blackburn and Watford both fail to win elsewhere, victory could put Boro up to fifth in the table.
Burnley can go top with a win if Leeds and Sheffield United lose elsewhere.
Team News
Rav van den Berg is suspended for Middlesbrough following his red card in a dramatic 3-3 draw against Sheffield Wednesday.
Tommy Conway (hamstring) and Sol Brynn (shoulder) are unlikely to be available but Neto Borges (cramp) faces a late fitness check.
George Edmundson and Jonny Howson (both knock) are doubtful but Seny Dieng (knock) and Luke Ayling (knee) won’t be involved.
Darragh Lenihan (fitness/Achilles), Aidan Morris (knee) and Tommy Smith (Achilles) are still sidelined.
Burnley have no fresh injury concerns to report following their win at Sheffield Utd.
Manuel Benson, Nathan Redmond (both calf), Jordan Beyer and Aaron Ramsey (both knee) are still ruled out.
When is Kick-Off?
Middlesbrough host Burnley at Riverside Stadium on Sunday 29 December at 8pm GMT, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Middlesbrough are winless in their last six meetings against Burnley (D3, L3).
- Burnley have claimed four points in their last five league trips to Boro (W1, D1, L3).
- Middlesbrough have kept clean sheets in three of their last four home games against Burnley.
- None of Boro’s six draws this season have finished goalless, with three of their six draws having finished 3-3.
- Three of Josh Brownhill’s nine league goals for Burnley this season came in the first-half.
Prediction
Having blown their 3-0 half-time lead against the Owls amidst injury issues, Boro now need to reset and focus on finding a balanced performance because their attack was strong, yet they just defensively switched off in the second half.
Burnley knew that their trip to Sheffield Utd was do-or-die for their automatic promotion ambitions, so they deserve credit for how clinical they were despite having to defend deep and resiliently soak up the Blades’ press.
This game though should be more evenly matched but if Boro can stay switched on, I can see them grinding out a point.
Prediction: Middlesbrough 1-1 Burnley
Result: Middlesbrough 0-0 Burnley
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