2026-27 Sky Bet Championship: Week Nine – Saturday

Middlesbrough host Wolves in a huge Championship showdown in the race for automatic promotion.

If Swansea lose to Norwich in the lunchtime kick-offs, victory would likely see either third-placed Middlesbrough or fourth-placed Wolves go top.

 

Team News

Middlesbrough have no fresh injury concerns to report after the international break.

Alfie Jones remains sidelined with a calf injury, which has kept him out of Boro’s last two matches.

Wolves could be without Fer Lopez and Jordan James after the pair returned from international duty for Spain and Wales with respective knee and foot injuries.

Yerson Mosquera (ankle) and Raul Jimenez (knee) remain absent.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Middlesbrough host Wolves at Riverside Stadium on Saturday 10 October at 3pm BST, untelevised live in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Middlesbrough have won three of their last five league meetings against Wolves (W3, L2).
• Wolves have won just one of their last 24 league visits to Middlesbrough (W1, D8, L15).
• Both of Middlesbrough’s last two home games against Wolves ended in a 2-1 result, of which both teams took one win apiece.
• Boro’s Will Lankshear has converted six of his 11 shots on target into goals in eight appearances this season.
• Fer Lopez has been involved in six of Wolves’ 15 league goals this campaign – having produced four goals and two assists in seven appearances.

 

Prediction

Having played out consecutive 2-2 draws just before the break, Middlesbrough now need to reset and cut out their defensive errors whilst the lively celebratory 150th anniversary match atmosphere will bring extra motivation.

Wolves meanwhile scraped clinical 1-0 wins in their last two outings but with Jimenez absent and Lopez potentially set to miss out, this might be a tougher trip for the Old Gold without two of their best goalscorers and more so given their poor record on Teesside.

Boro though do seem to have slightly more firepower in their locker up front with Will Lankshear if Wolves have to make do without Lopez and Jimenez, which might well be the difference for the hosts.

Prediction: Middlesbrough 2-1 Wolves