Preview: Norwich City vs. Middlesbrough - prediction, team news, lineups

Boro are on a run of five successive victories in the Championship, which has moved them into 13th spot in the table, while Norwich are currently 10th, level on points with their opponents in this match.

Match preview

Norwich finished 13th in the Championship last season after dropping out of the Premier League in 2021-22, and the Canaries will certainly be looking to push closer towards the promotion spots this term.

David Wagner's side are yet to find any sort of consistency this season, though, boasting a record of five wins, two draws and five defeats from their 12 matches, which has left them 10th in the table on 17 points.

Norwich are only two points off the top six but just four ahead of Stoke City in 20th, which is an indication of how quickly things can change at this level of football.

The Canaries last triumphed in the Championship at the end of September, and they have only picked up one point from their last three matches, with the disappointing run including a 3-2 home loss to Leeds United on Saturday afternoon.

Norwich are winless in their last three matches against Middlesbrough, meanwhile, including a 5-1 defeat when the two teams last locked horns at the Riverside Stadium back in April.

Boro made a disastrous start to the 2023-24 campaign, only picking up two points from their opening seven matches, but they have been excellent over the last month, posting five straight wins in the second tier.

Michael Carrick's side have overcome Southampton, Watford, Cardiff City, Sunderland and Birmingham City since their last defeat, with the form propelling them up the table into 13th position, only two points behind the playoffs, which will certainly be the aim for the club this term.

Middlesbrough finished fourth in the Championship in 2022-23, which qualified them for the playoffs, but they were beaten by Coventry City in the semi-finals.

Boro are playing in their seventh straight season at this level of football, with the team last competing in the Premier League in 2016-17, when they finished in 19th position.

Carrick's team are certainly on a roll at the moment, and their winning run in all competitions stands at six matches, as they also overcame Bradford City in the EFL Cup towards the end of last month.

Norwich City Championship form:

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Norwich City form (all competitions):

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Middlesbrough Championship form:

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Middlesbrough form (all competitions):

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Team News

Norwich will again be without the services of Ashley Barnes, Marcelino Nunez, Josh Sargent, Jakob Sorensen and Grant Hanley for Tuesday's contest with Middlesbrough through injury.

The Canaries will also be missing Angus Gunn due to the muscular issue that forced him off the field against Leeds on Saturday afternoon.

Gunn's absence will mean a start between the sticks for George Long, while Tony Springett is expected to be introduced in a wide position for the home side, with Onel Hernandez potentially dropping to the bench.

As for Middlesbrough, Morgan Rogers's might have played his way into the first XI on Tuesday evening following his goal off the bench against Birmingham at the weekend.

Rogers scored the winner in the 88th minute of the contest with the Blues, and he is now pushing for a spot in an attacking area, with Sam Greenwood potentially dropping to the bench.

Carrick's side did not suffer any fresh fitness problems in the contest with Birmingham, but Lewis O'Brien will again be sidelined due to an ankle problem.

Norwich City possible starting lineup:

Long; Stacey, Duffy, Gibson, Giannoulis; Rowe, Sara, McLean, Springett; Gibbs, Idah

Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:

Dieng; Smith, Fry, McNair, Engel; Barlaser, Hackney; Jones, Crooks, Rogers; Coburn

We say: Norwich City 1-2 Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough are flying at the moment, and they will be aiming to record a third straight win over Norwich in Tuesday's contest. Boro won 2-1 at Carrow Road in the corresponding match last season, and we can see the same scoreline occurring in this game.

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