Middlesbrough play host to Hull City on Saturday afternoon, requiring all three points to potentially move back into the Championship playoff positions.
Meanwhile, Hull make the trip to the Riverside Stadium looking for a maximum return which will realistically ensure that they are playing second-tier football next season.
Match preview
On the back of eight successive home wins in the Championship, Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder would have been optimistic about getting at least another point on the board when hosting leaders Fulham on Wednesday night.
However, a late Aleksandar Mitrovic header condemned Boro to a 1-0 defeat, resulting in the North-East outfit dropping outside of the top six ahead of the weekend's fixtures.
Still holding a game in hand, Wilder will remain confident of earning a playoff spot come the end of the season, but Boro find themselves under increasing pressure going into their upcoming contest.
Wilder surprisingly made the decision to remove Folarin Balogun from the starting lineup against the Cottagers, the Arsenal loanee having previously scored three goals in his previous four second-tier outings.
In terms of their backline, however, Boro are the form team in the division after keeping three successive clean sheets before Mitrovic's decisive effort at the Riverside Stadium.
As far as Hull are concerned, they head into their final six matches of the season holding a 12-point advantage over the relegation zone.
All things considered, that may already prove enough to guarantee their Championship status, but Shota Arveladze desperately requires some improved performances from his side to convince supporters that he is the right man to take the club forward.
Just 12 points have been collected from 13 fixtures, with successive home defeats to Luton Town and Huddersfield Town leaving the powers-that-be with much to ponder.
Although the 1-0 reverse against the latter was mainly down to the first-half dismissal of Tom Eaves, the result represented Hull's sixth defeat at the MKM Stadium in a row.
- W
- L
- D
- W
- W
- L
- L
- D
- W
- L
- W
- L
- W
- L
- D
- W
- L
- L
Team News
Wilder is likely to hand recalls to Aaron Connolly and Balogun, with Duncan Watmore and Andraz Sporar dropping out of the attack.
Isaiah Jones could return at right wing-back if he recovers from illness, while Marc Bola is pushing for an opportunity on the opposite flank.
Although Riley McGree is an option in midfield, Wilder will likely stick with his tried-and-trust trio in that area of the pitch.
Hull will definitely be without Eaves, who serves a one-match for collecting two yellow cards against Huddersfield.
While Marcus Forss did not make the 18-man squad last time out, the Brentford loanee could be handed a start in Eaves' absence.
Callum Elder and Greg Docherty are alternatives if Arveladze wants to introduce fresh faces, but the Georgian may opt to stick with the remainder of the starting lineup.
Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Lumley; Dijksteel, Fry, McNair; Jones, Crooks, Howson, Tavernier, Bola; Connolly, Balogun
Hull City possible starting lineup:
Ingram; Jones, McLoughlin, Greaves; Longman, Smallwood, Slater, Fleming; Honeyman, Lewis-Potter; Forss
We say: Middlesbrough 3-1 Hull City
With the pressure on Arveladze and his Hull squad to a certain degree, this does not represent a free hit as some may perceive it to be. That said, we still expect Boro to come through with another victory at the Riverside, potentially having to produce a strong closing half-hour to get over the line.
Top tip
body check tags ::
Previews by email
