Two teams chasing promotion from the Championship will convene on Tuesday evening, as playoff hopefuls Middlesbrough welcome top-two contenders Leeds United to the Riverside Stadium.
While Boro’s burst of good form has recently taken them up the table, Leeds have just drawn three games on the spin, losing their grip on an automatic promotion place.
Match preview
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After missing out on the playoffs by four points last season, Middlesbrough now aim to end their eight-year wait for another crack at the Premier League, and Michael Carrick‘s men have impressively improved their chances since enduring a five-match losing streak just a few weeks ago.
At Ewood Park on Friday night, Tommy Conway‘s cool first touch and finish put them ahead within two minutes of kickoff, before Samuel Iling-Junior fired in a deflected shot soon after, allowing Boro to cruise towards a 2-0 success.
The Teesside club have won five of their last seven matches, taking them one point clear of seventh place with six games remaining, and they can firm up fifth spot by claiming maximum points again in midweek.
Carrick’s side have recently come out on top in three consecutive Championship home fixtures – their best such run since early 2023, when they put together a streak of seven – so confidence will be high ahead of a stiff test on Tuesday.
Though they also triumphed in an EFL Cup clash between the clubs earlier this season, after their 3-1 defeat in December’s reverse fixture, Middlesbrough have lost five straight league games to Leeds, conceding at least three goals on four occasions.
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Winners of a seven-goal thriller at the Riverside this time last year, Leeds have certainly had the edge over their Yorkshire rivals of late – but recent form suggests they may struggle to extend that trend.
The Whites have slipped out of the Championship’s top two after a 1-1 draw with lowly Luton Town in their Saturday lunchtime clash at Kenilworth Road, where Daniel James scored a superb equaliser to rescue one point.
As a result, Leeds have now drawn three successive matches and only won once in six: having seemed almost certain to win automatic promotion two months ago, they must now rely on Sheffield United or Burnley dropping points.
Having fallen behind in all of their last four away games, they will be particularly wary of visiting opponents that started so quickly on Friday.
Yet, they could hardly have a manager with more direct experience of handling such peaks and troughs: Leeds boss Daniel Farke has clinched promotion five times in his coaching career so far.
Furthermore, Farke has won no fewer than eight of nine league matches against Middlesbrough – the most he has defeated any club during his time in English football.
Team News
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Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick was already missing a trio of defenders, and centre-back Neto Borges will now join Dael Fry, George Edmundson and Luke Ayling on the sidelines due to an ankle injury suffered against Blackburn.
Rav van den Berg may therefore step into the hosts’ four-man defence on Tuesday, partnering Jonny Howson.
Up front, Tommy Conway scored his 12th Championship goal of the season last time out, so he will continue to lead an attack also featuring Finn Azaz and Kelechi Iheanacho.
Meanwhile, Leeds pair Patrick Bamford and Max Wober recently resumed full training, making weekend cameos from the bench after overcoming long-term injuries.
Karl Darlow replaced Illan Meslier in goal at Kenilworth Road, with Daniel Farke citing the Wales international’s reliability and experience; so, Darlow should keep the gloves.
Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Travers; Dijksteel, Van den Berg, Howson, Giles; Hackney, Morris; Iling-Junior, Iheanacho, Azaz; Conway
Leeds United possible starting lineup:
Darlow; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Firpo; Tanaka, Ampadu; James, Aaronson, Solomon; Piroe
We say: Middlesbrough 2-1 Leeds United
Both home advantage and momentum are on Middlesbrough’s side heading into this crucial contest, so the hosts can claim another three points on Tuesday.
Once imperious, Leeds have lost some of their edge in recent weeks, and their in-form opponents can capitalise.
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