Middlesbrough host Ipswich on the Sky Bet Championship’s return from October’s international break.
Victory would see Middlesbrough return to the summit of the table, whilst Ipswich can climb to third with a win until Saturday afternoon.
Team News
Sontje Hansen is a doubt for Middlesbrough after he suffered a shoulder injury whilst on international duty for Curacao.
Riley McGree (muscle) could return but George Edmundson (hamstring), Seny Dieng and Darragh Lenihan (both Achilles) remain ruled out.
Ipswich have no fresh injury concerns to report following their 3-1 win over Norwich.
Wes Burns and Conor Townsend both remain sidelined with ACL injuries.
When is Kick-Off?
Middlesbrough host Ipswich at Riverside Stadium on Friday 17 October at 8pm BST, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Middlesbrough have lost one of their last nine meetings against Ipswich (W5, D3, L1).
- Ipswich have won one of their last eight visits to Middlesbrough (W1, D2, L5).
- Each of Boro’s last three home games against Ipswich ended in a 2-0 result, of which Middlesbrough won two of those three meetings to Ipswich’s one win.
- Tommy Conway has produced more shots this season than any of his Boro teammates, having created 16 shots – of which four were on target and resulted in two goals in nine appearances.
- Ipswich are yet to win away from home in all competitions this season (D3, L1). which included their 1-1 draw at Bromley in the Carabao Cup’s first round before they lost on penalties.
Prediction
Having fell to a first league defeat at Portsmouth before the international break in a sloppy display, Middlesbrough have had almost two weeks to reflect so I am expecting them to be fired up for this clash given their home form against Ipswich.
Kieran McKenna’s Tractor Boys though have found form in their last five games with three wins and two draws, but they are still yet to win on the road this season and have a single clean sheet, so this will be a tough test if want to stop their away rut.
Although Ipswich headed into the international break with the stronger confidence, a refreshed Boro might be too difficult to stop unless they can find a way to convert the intensity of their recent home wins into an away performance.
Prediction: Middlesbrough 2-1 Ipswich
Result: Middlesbrough 2-1 Ipswich