Middlesbrough plays host to Hull City on Saturday afternoon, a game they must win to potentially move back into the Championship play-off positions with kickoff at 5 pm.
Meanwhile, Hull is looking for a positive result at the Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough tonight, which would propel the club back into the Championship next season.
Boro manager Chris Wilder might have expected his side to come away from their home clash against Fulham with at least a point. Still, an Aleksandar Mitrovic winner for the visitors condemned Boro to defeat and sent them tumbling outside of the playoff positions.
Still holding a game in hand, Wilder will remain confident that his side can finish in the top six at the end of the season but now must recover from their setback quickly ahead of the next game.
Surprisingly, manager Lee Johnson elected to bench Folarin Balogun against Fulham, the young Arsenal loanee having scored three goals in his previous four second-tier starts.
As Hull City prepares to face Bristol City, a glance at the league table reveals that the club holds a 12-point advantage over the relegation zone.
However, only 12 points have been collected from 13 matches, with successive home defeats to Luton Town and Huddersfield Town leaving many City supporters questioning manager Shota Arveladze’s ability.
Middlesbrough vs. Hull City Head to Head
Both sides have 20 games against each other, with hosts taking nine wins while visitors with eight wins. Here is a look at their previous encounters:
Home
- Middlesbrough 0-1 Fulham
- Peterborough 0-4 Middlesbrough
- Middlesbrough 0-2 Chelsea
- Birmingham City 0-2 Middlesbrough
- Millwall 0-0 Middlesbrough
Away
- Hull City 0-1 Huddersfield Town
- Hull City 1-3 Luton
- Coventry City 0-2 Hull City
- Birmingham City 0-0 Hull City
- Peterborough 0-3 Hull City
Middlesbrough Team News
Wilder will recall Aaron Connolly and Balogun, with Duncan Watmore and Andraz Sporar dropping out of the attack. Isaiah Jones will return to right wing-back if he recovers from illness, and Marc Bola is in contention for a place on the opposite flank.
Hull City Team News
Hull will be without defender Chuba Akpom, who served a one-match suspension last time out against Huddersfield. While winger Marcus Forss did not make the 18-man squad last time out, the Brentford loanee could be handed a start in the absence of Akpom.
Prediction and Odds
Middlesbrough will possibly have to produce a strong finishing half-hour to get over the line against Hull.
- Middlesbrough Win
- Goals Over 2.5
- Both Teams to Score
