r00fie1
Well-known member
Its that time again>>>>>>>
Chris Wilder has described the next eight league games as "eight new challenges" - as important as every other match since he and his Management Team arrived at The Riverside. [See article - "Beyond Our Wilderest Dreams"].
Following last night`s results, Boro remain in the play-off places [6th] with two games in hand over Blackburn below them and Sheffield United in 5th. Tonights challenge is possibly the biggest yet, but with a vociferous home crowd - in Fortress Riverside - Boro wont fear the Londoners.
Last Night`s Results:
Today`s Championship Table:
Tonight`s Fixtures:
Latest Form:
Boro v Fulham Head-2-Head:
Boro / Fulham 21/22 League Position History:
Match Stats Summary:[https://www.flashscore.co.uk/match/vPWiNwzC/#/match-summary]
Chris Wilder’s Middlesbrough came back from the international break with a bang, sweeping Peterborough aside by a 4-0 scoreline and consequently ending the day back in the play-off places.
That victory sealed a third run of 3+ straight clean sheets this season alone, as Middlesbrough now turn their attention to extending an incredible eight-game winning run of home league games.
“We are right in the play-off race, and we should be,” stated Wilder recently, and it’s hard to argue with that considering 1991 was the last year ‘Boro’ notched a longer run of consecutive home league wins (ten).
But with five clean sheets in the last six home H2Hs and a renewed sense of belief in the region, Middlesbrough will feel they have a chance of potentially bettering that streak, despite Wilder’s winless managerial H2H record vs Fulham (D1, L3).
A 2-0 win at QPR last time out helped Fulham maintain their comfortable gap at the top of the table whilst also moving them to within just eight goals of setting a new Championship scoring record during the regular season. Fulham will achieve that feat by averaging just one goal per game until the end of the season, well below their current 2.42 goals scoring average to this point.
That QPR victory also ended a two-game wobble for Fulham (D1, L1), who “reacted like a big team should” according to manager Marco Silva.
However, this is now Fulham’s fifth consecutive away game, so tired legs after trips to Wales, Yorkshire, the Midlands and most recently their London derby could take their toll.
Players to watch:
Duncan Watmore helped Middlesbrough achieve their biggest league win since 2014 with a goal and assist in the final ten minutes last time out, and his last four goals have now come beyond 85’.
Who else but Aleksandar Mitrović? Fulham’s record-breaking scorer has contributed to more Championship goals (G37, A7) than nine sides have scored ahead of this round.
Hot stat: Middlesbrough have not won a home league game against a side starting the day in first place since a 2-1 win over Derby back in 2014/15 (L3 since).
Preview: Middlesbrough vs. Fulham - prediction, team news, lineups[https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/footba...lham-prediction-team-news-lineups_482381.html]
By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 1d
Fulham make the long trip to Middlesbrough knowing that victory will realistically put them on the brink of earning promotion to the Premier League.
While the leaders begin the week with a 14-point advantage over third position, Boro have moved back into the Championship playoff spots after recording successive league wins.
Match preview
Having failed to win either of their final two fixtures before the international break, there was a little bit of pressure on Fulham as they prepared to make the shortest of trips to London rivals Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.
However, a goal in each half from Aleksandar Mitrovic ensured that the Cottagers collected their 24th Championship victory of the campaign, moving them ever closer to an immediate return to the Premier League.
Marco Silva will insist that his team need to take one match at a time but with the teams in third position and lower struggling for consistency, two more wins may be enough to get over the line.
Despite their indifferent form, Fulham make the long trip to the Riverside Stadium with the best away record in the division, collecting 40 points from their 19 fixtures on the road.
Remarkably, this will be the Cottagers' fifth away fixture in succession, and they have the opportunity to end a testing run with 10 points from a possible 15.
However, Fulham face opponents in Middlesbrough who have won eight league matches in a row at their North-East home, not dropping points since a 2-1 defeat to Preston North End on November 23.
In sharp contrast, Chris Wilder had witnessed his players struggle on their travels during his reign until their recent successes at Birmingham City and Peterborough United.
Six goals have been scored without reply during that double-header, Arsenal loanee Folarin Balogun netting in both games to take his recent tally to three strikes in four outings.
With five matches still to come at the Riverside, Wilder and his squad will be confident of maintaining their place in the playoffs, but such is the small margin of error that defeat on Wednesday could leave them outside of the top six once again.
Middlesbrough Championship form:
- L
- W
- L
- D
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- D
- L
- W
Team News
Wilder could decide to stick with the Middlesbrough XI which started the demolition of Peterborough at the weekend.
Even if Neil Taylor recovers from injury, Marc Bola is expected to keep his spot at left wing-back, with the only alteration realistically coming in attack.
Duncan Watmore and Andraz Sporar may potentially come back into the team ahead of Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Aaron Connolly.
Silva is likely to hand a recall to Antonee Robinson, who was rested at the weekend after representing USA in World Cup qualifying.
Jean Michael Seri and Nathaniel Chalobah are both alternatives for Tom Cairney in the centre of midfield.
Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Lumley; Dijksteel, Fry, McNair; Jones, Crooks, Howson, Tavernier, Bola; Connolly, Balogun
Fulham possible starting lineup:
Rodak; Williams, Adarabioyo, Ream, Robinson; Reed, Chalobah; Wilson, Carvalho, Decordova-Reid; Mitrovic
We say: Middlesbrough 1-2 Fulham
On the back of their goal glut at Peterborough, Boro will be confident of pushing Fulham all the way on Wednesday evening. Nevertheless, we are backing the visitors to come out on top, perhaps by the odd goal in three, as they continue to canter towards the title.
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