Middlesbrough host Birmingham City in a massive Sky Bet Championship clash.
Victory will lift Middlesbrough up to second if Stoke fail to beat Coventry at home, whilst Birmingham can climb to sixth with a win if results elsewhere go in their favour.
Team News
Alfie Jones is suspended for Middlesbrough following his red card in their 1-1 draw at Leicester.
George Edmundson (hamstring), Abdoulaye Kante (hernia/groin), Seny Dieng and Darragh Lenihan (both Achilles) remain ruled out.
Birmingham have no fresh injury concerns to report after beating Millwall 4-0 on Tuesday night.
Ethan Laird (hamstring) and Willum Willumsson (unspecified) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Middlesbrough host Birmingham City on Saturday 8 November at the Riverside Stadium in a 3pm GMT kick-off, untelevised live in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Middlesbrough have won each of their last five meetings against Birmingham (W5).
- Birmingham have avoided defeat in three of their last five visits to Middlesbrough (W2, D1, L2).
- Boro have kept clean sheets in four of their last five meetings against Birmingham, except for a 3-1 away win in January 2023.
- Birmingham have lost three of their last four meetings against Boro by 1-0 results.
- Middlesbrough are yet to suffer a league defeat at home this season (W4, D2).
- Paik Seung-ho has scored in each of Birmingham’s last two games (W2).
Prediction
With uncertainty surrounding the future of Rob Edwards and two underwhelming away performances in the last week, Boro now need to deliver a performance that gives their boss reason to stay and lead them to potential promotion with improved clinical finishing.
Birmingham meanwhile have won just one of their last six away games but come into this game off the back of a ruthless 4-0 demolition of Millwall, which will do their confidence some good and they also have no distractions off the pitch so I expect them to be focused here.
Boro however are yet to lose at home but on current form, I can see them grinding out a draw because Birmingham do seem to be finding some form in their last four games.
Prediction: Middlesbrough 1-1 Birmingham City
Result: Middlesbrough 2-1 Birmingham City
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