In a clash that could significantly affect the race for promotion to the Premier League from the Championship, Middlesbrough are set to host West Bromwich Albion at the Riverside Stadium on Tuesday.
The home side are in seventh place with 41 points following their 2-1 defeat against Portsmouth on Saturday, while the away team drew 1-1 with Stoke City on the same date and occupy the final promotion playoff spot in sixth place with the same number of points as their opponents.
Match preview
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Middlesbrough were winning 1-0 after 30 minutes on the weekend, but they only converted one of their four big chances on Saturday and were eventually beaten despite facing just one big chance.
The hosts have arguably been unfortunate to concede 34 goals in the league this season considering they have only faced 28 xG, though boss Michael Carrick will still be concerned that his team rank as the worst defensive club in the top seven.
Carrick's side narrowly defeated West Brom 1-0 in the reverse fixture on October 1, their second consecutive victory against Tuesday's visitors.
Boro have struggled for wins in recent weeks, with the team losing their last two, while drawing four and winning one of their prior five.
Middlesbrough are also winless in their past four at home – drawing three and losing one – and scored four and conceded five in that time.
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Opponents West Brom only faced four shots from inside the penalty area against Stoke, but despite producing 16 of their attempts from inside the box, the Baggies created just two big chances.
Tuesday will be Tony Mowbray's first game in charge of the club since leaving to join Celtic in June 2009, and he takes over from caretaker Chris Brunt, who led the team after previous head coach Carlos Corberan left on December 24 to join Valencia.
The Baggies have found the back of the net in each of their last 10 games in the Championship, though eight of the top 14 have scored more than their tally of 33 goals.
Mowbray's side have been difficult to beat in the past weeks considering they are unbeaten in their four most recent league fixtures, drawing three and winning one.
The visitors' record away from home is poor given they have failed to achieve victory in their last six Championship games on the road – drawing four and losing two – and have only won once in their past 11 away matches in the second tier.
Team News
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The hosts will have to contend with the absence of goalkeeper Solomon Brynn, as well as defenders Alex Bangura, Darragh Lenihan and Tommy Smith.
Carrick may name Rav van den Berg, Dael Fry, George Edmundson and Neto Borges in front of goalkeeper Tom Glover.
Midfielder Jonathan Howson and forward Tommy Conway will also miss out, so perhaps Daniel Barlaser and Hayden Hackney will start behind a forward line consisting of Ben Doak, Finn Azaz, Delano Burgzorg and Emmanuel Latte Lath.
As for the visitors, they come into the clash with relatively few injury absentees, though they will not be able to select strikers Daryl Dike and Josh Maja until February.
Grady Diangana and Karlan Grant partnered each other in a front two last time out, and they may do so again on Tuesday.
Centre-back Semi Ajayi has been ruled out due to a leg injury, so expect Mason Holgate and Torbjorn Heggem to be stationed in front of shot-stopper Alex Palmer.
Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Glover; Van den Berg, Fry, Edmundson, Borges; Barlaser, Hackney; Doak, Azaz, Burgzorg; Lath
West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:
Palmer; Furlong, Holgate, Heggem, Styles; Fellows, Molumby, Mowatt, Johnston; Diangana, Grant
We say: Middlesbrough 2-2 West Bromwich Albion
Neither side are in strong form and it would not be surprising if both conceded multiple chances on Tuesday.
West Brom might be buoyed by the return of Mowbray and may start better than Middlesbrough, but the hosts should have enough to get back into the contest considering they have often found ways to draw matches and avoid defeat in recent weeks.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
