Middlesbrough play host to Stoke City on Saturday afternoon looking to build on a mixed start to the new Championship campaign.
At a time when the home side sit in 12th position in the standings, the visitors are down in 17th on the back of successive defeats.
Match preview
© Imago
A month on from losing 5-0 to Stoke in the EFL Cup, Middlesbrough will be attempting to gain revenge for what was an eye-catching capitulation.
To the credit of Michael Carrick's side, they have managed to respond with four points from the three games that have followed.
After a 2-0 victory at Cardiff City, they took a point from the home fixture with Preston North End, taking them into the derby with Sunderland in promising form.
However, a first-half goal from Chris Rigg proved to be the difference at the Stadium of Light, and the defeat leaves Boro with eight points from their first six games.
Five of those points have come from their three games at the Riverside Stadium, leaving them with an unbeaten home record where the second tier is concerned.
Meanwhile, Stoke are beginning a new era under new head coach Narcis Pelach, who was surprisingly chosen to replace Steven Schumacher.
When the Potters were 1-0 ahead at half time in his first game against Hull City, it appeared to be an inspired choice, but the Tigers roared back to secure a 3-1 triumph in front of a furious home crowd.
With Stoke having now lost four of their last five fixtures in the Championship, Pelach has a tough task on his hands to win over the supporters in the short term.
Just one of their four league goals have been scored away from home, albeit in a 1-0 victory at Plymouth Argyle before the international break.
Team News
© Imago
Carrick will consider handing starts to Ben Doak and Micah Hamilton as he looks for a solution to Middlesborough's lack of goals.
Boro still have a considerable injury list with Rav van den Berg and Lukas Engel the closest to returning to the squad.
With Pelach looking to establish some familiarity with his new system, it would not come as a surprise if he retained the same Stoke XI.
Emre Tezgel could be preferred to Lewis Koumas in the final third, but the rest of the team may stay the same.
The likes of Ashley Phillips and Sam Gallagher are still injured for the Potters.
Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Dieng; Ayling, Edmundson, Clarke, Borges; Morris, Hackney; Jones, Conway, Azaz; Latte Lath
Stoke City possible starting lineup:
Johansson; Tchamadeu, Wilmot, Gibson, Bocat; Koumas, Burger, Thompson, Bae; Manhoef; Cannon
We say: Middlesbrough 2-1 Stoke City
The travelling fans will be hoping that their side can start this game much better than they finished the last one. Nevertheless, though, we are backing Boro to come through with the three points, gaining revenge for the hammering that they took from the Potters last month.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
