Middlesbrough play host to Bristol City on Saturday afternoon with the opportunity to move above their opponents in the Championship standings.
Although Boro have spent much of the campaign in and around the relegation zone, Michael Carrick's team can move ahead of their 16th-placed opponents with victory at the Riverside Stadium.
Match preview
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When Middlesbrough suffered a last-gasp defeat at Preston North End last weekend, Carrick quickly experienced the lows of Championship football.
However, his new side quickly bounced back with a 3-1 victory at Hull City earlier this week, benefitting from two own goals, and the North East outfit now sit one point clear of the bottom three.
With a total of seven points coming from four matches, there are signs that Boro are ready to make rapid progress up the table, and 14th place realistically remains in their sights over the next week.
By the start of the World Cup, Carrick would have overseen four away fixtures in his opening five matches with Blackpool and Norwich City to follow Saturday's encounter.
That scenario will only heighten the desire to extend their solid record at the Riverside Stadium, Boro collecting 13 points from nine outings and suffering just two defeats.
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As far as Bristol City are concerned, it did not take them long to revert back to their inconsistent ways of 2021-22 after such a bright start to the season.
Nigel Pearson's side have now lost seven of their most recent 11 fixtures, the latest reverse coming in midweek as they succumbed by a 1-0 scoreline to Sheffield United.
The Robins, who were once regarded as a free-scoring team, have now netted just once in three games, while they head into this fixture with the worst defensive away record in the division.
Now sitting just three points above the relegation zone, the pressure is rising at Ashton Gate, although Pearson may remain optimistic that his side will not suffer consecutive defeats since either side of the September international break.
Team News
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Carrick may be prepared to stick with the majority of the Middlesbrough XI which started against Hull in midweek.
However, Rodrigo Muniz is pushing for a recall in place of Marcus Forss, while Alex Mowatt and Matt Crooks are both alternatives in midfield.
Although Paddy McNair returned to the squad last time out, the Northern Ireland international may have to remain on the substitutes' bench.
George Tanner is missing for Bristol City after collecting a straight red card for a reckless challenge during the closing stages against Sheffield United.
Timm Klose should return to the back three in his place, while Joe Williams, Antoine Semenyo and Chris Martin are all pushing for opportunities in midfield and attack respectively.
Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Steffen; Smith, Fry, Lenihan, Giles; Jones, Howson, Hackney, McGree; Akpom, Forss
Bristol City possible starting lineup:
O'Leary; Vyner, Klose, Pring; Sykes, James, Scott, Dasilva; Weimann; Semenyo, Conway
We say: Middlesbrough 2-1 Bristol City
Given Bristol City's long-standing inconsistency, they may very well travel to the North East and pull off a shock win. However, we feel that Boro could improve quickly under Carrick, leading us to predict a home win, albeit in nervy circumstances.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
