Promotion-chasing Middlesbrough meet relegation-battling Leicester City in a huge Sky Bet Championship clash.
Victory would move Middlesbrough level on points with league leaders, Coventry, whilst Leicester can climb out of the relegation zone with a win or draw if West Brom lose to Charlton.
Team News
Middlesbrough have no fresh injury concerns to report after their goalless draw at home to Oxford United.
Alex Bangura, George Edmundson (both unspecified), Alfie Jones (ankle) and Darragh Lenihan (Achilles) remain ruled out.
Leicester could be without defender, Victor Kristiansen after he was substituted in their 2-2 draw at Stoke due to a knock.
Abdul Fatawu (knee), Jordan Ayew (knock) and Jannik Vestergaard (hernia) are doubtful and face late fitness checks.
Hamza Choudhury (knee), Jamal Lascelles (unspecified), Jordan James, Aaron Ramsey (both hamstring) and Harry Souttar (Achilles) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Middlesbrough host Leicester at Riverside Stadium on Tuesday 24 February at 7:45pm GMT, live on Sky Sports+ in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Middlesbrough are unbeaten in their last five meetings against Leicester (W2, D3).
- Leicester have lost one of their last five visits to Middlesbrough (W3, D4, L1).
- Middlesbrough have kept clean sheets in two of their last five meetings against Leicester, which both came at home as they drew 0-0 in January 2017 then won 1-0 in November 2023.
- Middlesbrough are yet to concede at home in 2026 (W3, D1).
- Leicester have conceded first in each of their last three away matches (D2, L1), with the conceded opener in their last two away games having been scored in the third minute at Birmingham and Stoke respectively.
Prediction
After a slow start against Oxford Utd who clearly tried to replicate Coventry’s aggression which comfortably dispatched Boro last week, Middlesbrough will be disappointed by how wasteful they were once on top in a dominant second half so I do expect a more clinical response here.
Leicester meanwhile are fighting to avoid relegation and despite their injury crisis, they did well to fight back to lead at Stoke before they conceded a sloppy equaliser, but they can take confidence from being the marginally better attacking team and could have Fatawu plus Ayew back up front here,
On that note, I can see this game being another tightly-fought battle for both teams and a draw might well be a fair call.
Prediction: Middlesbrough 1-1 Leicester
Result: Middlesbrough 1-1 Leicester