High-flying Middlesbrough host rock-bottom Sheffield United in a huge Championship clash.
Victory would see Boro climb to the summit if Stoke fail to beat West Brom elsewhere in the early kick-offs, whilst Sheffield Utd can move out of the relegation zone with a win.
Team News
Middlesbrough could hand loan signing, Matt Targett his club debut following his switch from Newcastle for the season.
Seny Dieng (Achilles), Alex Bangura, Darragh Lenihan (both hamstring) and Riley McGree (muscle) remain ruled out.
Sheffield Utd could hand new signings, Danny Ings and Japhet Tanganga their club debuts.
Jamie Shackleton (foot), Oli Arblaster (ACL) and Tom Davies (back) remain sidelined.
When is Kick-Off?
Middlesbrough host Sheffield Utd at Riverside Stadium on Saturday 30 August at 12:30pm BST, live on Sky Sports Main Event and Football in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Middlesbrough have claimed seven points in their last five league meetings against Sheffield Utd (W2, D1, L2).
- Sheffield Utd are winless in their last eight league visits to Middlesbrough (D2, L6).
- Boro have kept clean sheets in their last eight home games against Sheffield Utd in all competitions (W6, D2), during which they scored 11 goals and conceded twice.
- Boro’s six league goals in their opening three matches were all netted by six different goalscorers.
- Sheffield Utd are looking to avoid suffering four consecutive regular-season defeats for the first time since a seven-match streak between April – May 2024.
Prediction
Aside from their Carabao Cup embarrassment against Doncaster Rovers, Boro have otherwise enjoyed an impressive start to the season with their high-press having proven problematic as Norwich discovered with some sloppy errors which were clinically punished.
Finn Azaz’s departure though will be a loss in terms of attacking creativity given that he was already finding early form after his breakthrough campaign last season, but I do expect Boro to adapt under a quality manager in Rob Edwards as it opens the door for others to step up.
Sheffield Utd meanwhile have just lacked their usual attacking flair under Ruben Selles with a single goal in three league games, although they lost their recent two by 1-0 results which highlights the fact that they need to focus on polishing their final touches and cut out the costly defensive errors.
Nevertheless I expect Boro to have a tough game against the Blades but I can’t imagine Ings having much impact for the visitors given his recent form of the last few seasons, so the hosts should snatch this if continue to play like they’ve done.
Prediction: Middlesbrough 1-0 Sheffield Utd
Result: Middlesbrough 1-0 Sheffield Utd
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