In a match that could impact both the race for promotion and the relegation battle in the Championship, Luton Town are set to host Middlesbrough at Kenilworth Road on Saturday.
The Hatters will be looking to continue their improved form this weekend, while Boro will be hoping to prove that they have turned a corner after a difficult start to the year.
Match preview
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Matt Bloomfield‘s Luton went without a single win between Boxing Day and the beginning of March, but have won two of their last three to give themselves some hope in their fight for survival.
Last time out, the Hatters came from behind beat fellow relegation candidates Cardiff City 2-1 away from home thanks to Thelo Aasgaard‘s first goal since signing from Wigan Athletic in January.
The three points Bloomfield’s men picked up on Tuesday stopped them from dropping to the foot of the table and has them two points behind the Bluebirds, who are the first team safe from the drop.
However, with only one win at Kenilworth Road in 2025, the hosts may be low on confidence coming up against a club that are fighting at the opposite end of the division, though they did win their most recent home game against Portsmouth at the start of the month.
Another victory on Saturday could lift Luton out of the relegation zone should results elsewhere prove favourable, but they will be desperate to avoid defeat at the very least given that they remain only one point ahead of bottom-placed Plymouth Argyle.
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Meanwhile, Michael Carrick‘s Middlesbrough endured a five-game losing streak up to the end of February, though with three wins from their four most recent matches, they will be confident that they have got their campaign back on track.
On Monday, Boro survived a late scare to beat Queens Park Rangers 2-1 at the Riverside Stadium thanks to goals from Tommy Conway and Anfernee Dijksteel.
With that win under their belt, Carrick’s side are now eighth in the second tier, and with just three points between themselves and sixth-placed Coventry City, their playoff hopes have been revived.
The hosts will feel that they have a golden opportunity to close the gap this weekend given that they face one of the Championship’s favourites to be relegated, but with just one victory from their last six away games, it remains to be seen whether Boro’s resurgence extends beyond their own turf.
Should they manage to seize all three points on Saturday, Middlesbrough may find that they are in the top six by the end of the matchday despite their disastrous start to the year, and with six of the seven teams above them dropping points last time out, fans and players alike will be desperate for the win.
Team News
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Luton are expected to be without right-sided defenders Tom Lockyer and Teden Mengi until next month, so Bloomfield’s back three should consist of Amari’i Bell, Mark McGuinness and Christ Makosso on Saturday.
Elsewhere, midfielders Tahith Chong and Shandon Baptiste are close to a return to action but are unlikely to make this weekend’s squad as they build fitness.
In their absence, Liam Walsh, Jordan Clark and Thelo Aasgaard will line up in the centre of the park.
As for Middlesbrough, they have a lengthy list of injury absentees for their trip to Luton, including defenders Alex Bangura, Rav van den Berg, George Edmundson, Luke Ayling and Darragh Lenihan.
With so many missing from his backline, Carrick is likely to start Anfernee Dijksteel, Jonathan Howson, Neto Borges and Samuel Iling Junior in front of goalkeeper Mark Travers.
Luton Town possible starting lineup:
Kaminski; Makosso, McGuiness, Bell; Jones, Walsh, Clark, Aasgaard, Doughty; Morris, Adebayo
Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Travers; Dijksteel, Howson, Borges, Junior; Morris, Hackney; Burgzorg, Conway, Azaz; Iheanacho
We say: Luton Town 1-2 Middlesbrough
Both sides have been in improved form this month after difficult starts to the year, so expect a close-fought contest with so much at stake.
Additionally, Luton have a poor home record while Middlesbrough have been lacklustre away from the Riverside, but the visitors are battling for a place in the playoffs and will be motivated to secure all three points against a relegation candidate on Saturday.
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