Middlesbroughvs.Derby

Meanwhile, the relegation-threatened Rams will be hoping to pick up their first win since beating West Bromwich Albion on Boxing Day.

Match preview

Middlesbrough experienced a run of five consecutive defeats before they got their playoff bid back on track in Tuesday's successful away clash against Stoke City.

Marcus Forss saw his opener cancelled out by Bae Jun-ho, before Finn Azaz and Tommy Conway found the net to seal a 3-1 victory, helping ease some of the pressure building on Michael Carrick's shoulders.

That much-needed win moved Boro up to 11th spot in the Championship table, leaving them four points adrift of the top six.

They will be desperate to pick up another win in Saturday's fixture, especially as they have only won one of their last six Championship home games (D3, L2).

In fact, Middlesbrough are at risk of losing three consecutive league games at the Riverside Stadium for the first time since April 2022.

However, they have enjoyed success in their last two home meetings with Derby, running out 3-0 winners in November 2020 before cruising to a 4-1 victory in February 2022.

Derby County boss John Eustace has been unable to spark an upturn in fortunes in his first two games since he swapped a playoff bid with Blackburn Rovers for a relegation fight with the Rams.

Eustace's Derby tenure started with a demoralising 4-0 away defeat against Queens Park Rangers, before they conceded late in last Saturday's narrow loss to Millwall.

The Rams looked set to take a point from the home encounter when Josh Coburn missed an 83rd-minute penalty, only for the Millwall forward to eventually find the net in stoppage time to condemn Derby to a 1-0 defeat.

As a result, Derby have now picked up just two points from their last 11 league matches, leaving them in 23rd position and four points adrift from safety.

The Rams have scored just two goals in their previous nine Championship outings, contributing to the fact they are the division's joint second-lowest scorers with 33 goals in 34 matches.

Derby will hope to find their shooting boots for Saturday's contest, as they go in search of a first league double over Middlesbrough since 1988-89 after recording a 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture in August.

Middlesbrough Championship form:

L

L

L

L

L

W

Derby County Championship form:

L

L

D

D

L

L

Team News

Middlesbrough remain without the services of Sol Brynn, Darragh Lenihan, Seny Dieng, Jonny Howson Riley McGree and Ben Doak.

Carrick has revealed that a late decision will be made on George Edmundson and Rav van den Berg's availability, with the pair looking to overcome their respective injury issues in time for Saturday's contest.

If the pair fail to prove their fitness, the experienced Luke Ayling could come into the side to partner Dael Fry in central defence.

As for the visitors, Eustace will be unable to call upon Curtis Nelson, Dajaune Brown and Corey Blackett-Taylor, while Nat Phillips will have to be assessed by Derby's medical staff after sitting out the last two matches.

Unfortunately for the Rams, they will definitely be without David Ozoh after it was confirmed that the Crystal Palace loanee will miss the rest of the season with a thigh injury.

Liam Thompson could replace Ozoh in the middle of the park, while there may also be starting spots for Marcus Harness and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.

Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:

Travers; Dijksteel, Ayling, Fry, Borges; Morris, Hackney; Forss, Azaz, Whittaker; Conway

Derby County possible starting lineup:

Widell Zetterstrom; Nyambe, Langas, Clarke, Osborn; Adams, Thompson; Goudmijn, Harness, Mendez-Laing; Yates

We say: Middlesbrough 2-1 Derby County

Written by

Ben Sully

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