Middlesbrough play host to Luton Town on Saturday afternoon looking for the win that may move the club into the Championship playoff places.
At a time when Boro sit in eighth position in the table, Luton have recently improved to progress into 19th spot.
Match preview
© Imago
With 14 games having come and gone, Middlesbrough are one of the anomalies in this division having struggled to put together back-to-back wins.
Despite regularly sitting inside the top 10, Michael Carrick's side have only achieved that feat once during 2024-25, back at the end of September and start of October.
However, they now have another opportunity to replicate that effort after their 4-1 triumph away at struggling Queens Park Rangers in midweek.
The home side had been competitive until the 87th minute when the score remained at 2-1, but two late strikes ensured that Boro were able to move back into eighth place.
Carrick's side now boast the fifth-best away record in the division, in sharp contrast to their efforts at the Riverside Stadium when just 11 points have been registered from their seven fixtures on familiar territory.
Luton will be attempting to take advantage of that having accumulated a welcome four points from their last two outings.
Rob Edwards' side came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw at home to West Bromwich Albion before impressively ending Cardiff's six-game unbeaten run with a 1-0 success at Kenilworth Road.
Collecting seven points over a five-game period is as good as it has gotten for the Hatters this season, and ending a three-game streak without success was required to keep them outside of the bottom three.
Nevertheless, they make the long trip to the North-East having lost three successive away matches and scoring just four times in their six fixtures on their travels.
Team News
© Imago
Dan Barlaser and Emmanuel Latte Lath both came off the substitutes' bench to score for Middlesbrough at Loftus Road.
However, each player may have to be content with a spot among the replacements with Jonny Howson and Tommy Conway in line to retain their places.
While Hayden Hackney is available again after a ban, it remains to be seen whether he will be immediately recalled by Carrick.
Alfie Doughty is a doubt for this fixture having picked up a knock during the closing stages versus Cardiff.
Victor Moses is on standby to take his place at wing-back if required, but Edwards may consider no further alterations on the back of the victory against the Welsh outfit.
Reece Burke, Mads Andersen and Reuell Walters all remain sidelined for the visitors.
Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Dieng; Ayling, Edmundson, Clarkes, Borges; Howson, Morris; Doak, Azaz, McGree; Conway
Luton Town possible starting lineup:
Kaminski; Mengi, McGuinness, Bell; Hashioka, Krauss, Clark, Doughty; Chong; Morris, Brown
We say: Middlesbrough 1-1 Luton Town
With Boro having finally hit the goal trail in midweek, they will be confident on building on that performance. However, Luton may have finally turned the corner, leading us to predict a hard-fought draw for the Hatters this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
