Middlesbroughvs.Burnley

The Clarets are in third place in the Championship table, while the hosts are sitting just outside of the top-six in seventh place.

Match preview

Middlesbrough slipped outside of the top six after they gave up a three-goal lead in their Boxing Day clash with Sheffield Wednesday.

Finn Azaz netted a brace after Ben Doak's opener to give Boro a commanding half-time lead, before Svante Ingelsson, Josh Windass and Yan Valery all found the net to deny Middlesbrough all three points at the Riverside Stadium.

That result represented a second straight 3-3 draw after Michael Carrick's side previously came behind on three occasions to take a point from last Saturday's away clash with relegation-threatened Plymouth Argyle.

While they have now gone three games without defeat, Boro will be frustrated by the fact they have won just one of their previous five matches, leaving them one point adrift of the top six ahead of Sunday's tricky home game against promotion-chasing Burnley.

However, they will be pleased with a return of 41 goals from 23 matches, making them the league's second-highest scorers behind league leaders Leeds United.

Boro will look to showcase that firepower in their final game of 2024, as they go in search of their first win over Burnley since recording a 1-0 victory in August 2015.

Having racked up 47 points from 23 matches, Burnley are currently one point adrift of the top two of Sheffield United and Leeds United.

The Clarets are looking to carry significant momentum into the new year after winning each of their last three matches in a 10-game unbeaten run.

Burnley recorded 2-1 victories against Norwich City and Watford, before they claimed a crucial 2-0 away win over promotion rivals Sheffield United on Boxing Day.

Josh Brownhill and Zian Flemming grabbed a goal apiece to fire Burnley to a fourth consecutive away victory, and their second win at Bramall Lane this year after previously running out 4-1 winners in April's Premier League fixture.

They will now turn their focus to an away game against a free-scoring Middlesbrough side, with the visitors well-equipped to offer strong resistance, having conceded just nine goals in 23 league games to establish the best defensive record in the second tier.

Burnley have proven to be a tough team to beat in recent games against Boro, having avoided defeat in each of their previous seven competitive meetings (W3, D4), including a 1-1 draw when the two sides face off at Turf Moor earlier this month.

Middlesbrough Championship form:

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D

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W

D

D

Burnley Championship form:

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D

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W

Team News

Middlesbrough goalkeeper Sol Brynn is set to miss out after sustaining a shoulder injury in the Boxing Day draw with Sheffield Wednesday.

Tom Glover came off the bench to replace the injured shot-stopper, and the 27-year-old is now poised to make his first start of the season.

Rav van den Berg will serve a one-match ban following his dismissal on Thursday, while Tommy Conway will have to be assessed after he picked up a hamstring issue against the Owls.

The hosts are also without the services of George Edmundson, Aidan Morris, Seny Dieng, Luke Ayling and Jonny Howson.

As for the visitors, they are unable to call upon Manuel Benson, Aaron Ramsey, Jordan Beyer, Enock Agyei, Nathan Redmond and Mike Tresor.

Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Jeremy Sarmiento will have to be assessed after sitting out the last two matches through injury.

Brownhill will be looking to continue his recent goalscoring form after finding the net in each of Burnley's last three matches.

Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:

Glover; Dijksteel, Fry, Clarke, Borges; Barlaser, Hackney; Doak, Azaz, Burgzorg; Latte Lath

Burnley possible starting lineup:

Trafford; Roberts, Egan-Riley, Esteve, Humphreys; Cullen, Laurent; Anthony, Brownhill, Mejbri; Flemming

We say: Middlesbrough 2-2 Burnley

Written by

Ben Sully

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