2025-26 Sky Bet Championship: Week 33 – Saturday

Promotion-chasing Middlesbrough meet relegation-battling Oxford United in a huge Sky Bet Championship clash.

If Coventry fail to win at lunchtime, victory would see Middlesbrough return to the summit of the Championship.

Oxford Utd could move to within three points of safety with a win.

 

Team News

Tommy Conway is a doubt for Middlesbrough after he suffered a knock during their 3-1 loss at Coventry.

Alex Bangura, George Edmundson (both unspecified), Alfie Jones (ankle) and Darragh Lenihan (Achilles) remain ruled out.

Oxford Utd have no fresh injury concerns to report after their FA Cup exit in a 1-0 loss at home to Sunderland.

Jack Currie, Tyler Goodrham (both ankle), Brian de Keersmaecker (shoulder), Michal Helik (quad), Nik Prelec (groin), Hidde ter Avest (hamstring) and Ole Romeny (foot) remain absent.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Middlesbrough host Oxford Utd at Riverside Stadium on Saturday 21 February at 3pm GMT, untelevised live in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Middlesbrough are unbeaten in their last 11 league meetings against Oxford Utd (W8, D3).
• Oxford Utd have lost all three visits to Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium in all competitions (L3).
• Middlesbrough are yet to keep a clean sheet at home against Oxford Utd since they moved to the Riverside Stadium (W3), during which they scored nine goals but conceded four goals.
• Kim Hellberg’s Boro are yet to concede at home in 2026 (W3).
• Oxford Utd have claimed one point in their last four league matches (D1, L3).

 

Prediction

Having unexpectedly been tactically outclassed at Coventry who went aggressive from the get-go and limited Middlesbrough’s ability to match their intensity, Kim Hellberg’s squad now need to reset and just try to play like they’ve done lately.

Oxford Utd though were slightly unlucky not to at least force extra time against Sunderland but they will be pleased to had not conceded from open play, which I guess is a small confidence boost given that it came down to a controversially soft penalty.

Now if Oxford Utd can keep it as tight as they did against Sunderland but be more clinical, they might actually nick something here but I do expect Boro to take the win if can produce an immediate aggressive reaction.

Prediction: Middlesbrough 2-1 Oxford Utd

Result: Middlesbrough 0-0 Oxford Utd