Sports Mole previews Tuesday’s Championship clash between Middlesbrough and Preston North End, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Middlesbrough and Preston North End will both be looking to bounce back from defeats when they go head-to-head in Tuesday’s Championship encounter.
The hosts are currently sitting in 12th position in the league table, with Preston are four points better off in sixth place.
Match preview
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Middlesbrough have experienced a mixed batch of results since their run of six consecutive league wins was brought to an end by a 3-2 defeat to Stoke City at the end of October.
After beginning November with an entertaining 3-3 draw with Plymouth Argyle, Boro went on to claim a notable 1-0 win over leaders Leicester City in their final outing before the international period.
Michael Carrick‘s charges were seemingly on course to return from the two-week break with a point after a Zak Vyner own goal and a Matt Crooks effort saw them come from two goals down to level Saturday’s contest against Bristol City, only for Mark Sykes to net a 67th-minute winner to condemn Middlesbrough to their first away defeat since September.
Following their long trip to Ashton Gate, Boro will return to the Riverside for Tuesday’s encounter, which certainly offers cause for optimism after winning four of their last five home matches.
Impressively, Middlesbrough have also kept three clean sheets in their previous four home outings, and a strong defence has certainly been required, with goals proving hard to come by at the other end of the pitch, having netted just seven times in eight home league games – only Queens Park Rangers and Sheffield Wednesday have scored fewer goals in front of their own supporters.
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After enduring a seven-game winless run, Preston enjoyed an upturn in fortunes before the international break, recording victories over Coventry City and Blackburn Rovers.
Unfortunately for Ryan Lowe‘s side, they were unable to pick up from where they left off, as they conceded two stoppage-time goals to lose 2-1 to Cardiff City on Saturday, with the result representing just their second defeat of the Championship season.
Milutin Osmajic found the net inside the opening three minutes of the second half to give Preston a narrow lead, before they were reduced to 10 men in the 52nd minute when Robbie Brady received his second yellow card, and while they did their best to hold firm, late goals from Karlan Ahearne-Grant and Ike Ugbo left the Lilywhites with nothing to show for their efforts.
As a result of the defeat, Preston dropped one place to sixth position, leaving them just one point clear of the teams sitting just outside the playoffs.
Having conceded in each of their last 12 matches, Preston will be looking to produce a strong defensive display on Tuesday, especially after falling to a 4-0 defeat on their last trip to the Riverside in March.
Middlesbrough Championship form:
Middlesbrough form (all competitions):
Preston North End Championship form:
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Team News
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Preston are still unable to call upon the services of Emil Riis, who has been sidelined since the start of the year after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Ali McCann and Greg Cunningham are closing in on a return to fitness, but it remains to be seen if they will be passed fit for Tuesday’s contest.
Robbie Brady will serve a one-match suspension after being sent off in the second half of Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Cardiff.
As for Middlesbrough, their defensive options have been affected by the news that Darragh Lenihan and Tommy Smith will miss the rest of the season through injury.
Winger Riley McGree and forward Marcus Forss are also ruled out of the midweek encounter due to foot and thigh problems respectively.
Left-back Lukas Engel is another injury concern after he was forced off in Saturday’s defeat to Bristol City with an ankle injury.
Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Woodman; Storey, Lindsay, Best; Potts, Browne, Whiteman, Holmes, Millar; Evans, Osmajic
Preston North End possible starting lineup:
Dieng; Van den Berg, Fry, McNair, Bangura; Howson, Hackney; Jones, Crooks, Greenwood; Coburn
We say: Middlesbrough 2-1 Preston North End
Both teams will be looking to produce a positive response following disappointing results at the weekend, but we think it will be Middlesbrough who will come out on top after winning four of their last five home matches.
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