Having boosted survival hopes by winning their last game of 2024, Championship strugglers Hull City will aim to take that momentum into a clash with playoff contenders Middlesbrough on New Year's Day.
The teams convene at the MKM Stadium with Boro sitting sixth and Hull just outside the drop zone.
Match preview
Following a Boxing Day defeat in Preston, Sunday's return trip to Lancashire brought a better outcome for Hull City, who edged out Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park to inch above the Championship's bottom three.
Substitute Ryan Longman scored the only goal deep into the second half, sealing a precious victory for the Tigers, who also kept their first clean sheet in 21 matches.
Coming into the new year, Ruben Selles's side therefore occupy 21st place in the table on 22 points, just one outside of the relegation places.
After a couple of post-Christmas road trips, Hull now return to home turf, where they have produced only two wins from 12 Championship contests this season.
Winners in six of their last 10 year-opening fixtures, City will seek another bright start by turning such home form around during three straight games at the MKM Stadium - Leeds United visit at the weekend, before an FA Cup tie with Doncaster Rovers.
Middlesbrough's recent record in year-openers is even more impressive, as they have lost just once in the last 11 seasons - albeit, that sole defeat did come against Coventry City 12 months ago.
Following a 3-1 home win in November, Boro are now looking to do a league double over Hull for the second time in three seasons, having beaten them both home and away in 2022-23 - last term, though, they picked up just one point from two meetings.
On this occasion, the playoff hopefuls will meet their North Yorkshire rivals on a four-game unbeaten run, which has recently featured three consecutive draws.
After sharing the spoils in a pair of six-goal thrillers - against Plymouth Argyle and Sheffield Wednesday - Michael Carrick's side played out a more prosaic 0-0 stalemate with Burnley at the Riverside Stadium on Sunday.
That did move them back into the top six, just above Watford on goal difference, but it is now one win in six games and they sit 12 points behind Sheffield United, who occupy the second automatic promotion spot.
Boro have accrued 15 points from 33 available on their travels this term, but the last time they won away from home was back in November - a 6-2 thrashing of Oxford United - and Carrick will be keen to end that drought sooner rather than later.
Team News
Ruben Selles is set to name a similar starting XI to that which lined up against Blackburn, after claiming three points and keeping a rare clean sheet.
Hull's absence list remains lengthy, as Kasey Palmer has been ruled out until February, joining Carl Rushworth, Charlie Hughes, Oscar Zambrano, Liam Millar, Mohamed Belloumi and Ryan Giles on the sidelines. The latter is hopeful of returning from a hamstring problem, though.
City's four-goal top scorer Joao Pedro - once capped by Italy, where he was Cagliari's star striker for several years - will feature up front.
Meanwhile, Emmanuel Latte Lath is Middlesbrough's leading scorer with nine league goals this season, and the Ivorian international should be supported by Finn Azaz and young Scotland star Ben Doak.
Academy graduate Sol Brynn faces around three months out after dislocating his shoulder on Boxing Day, while Seny Dieng is still struggling with a hip flexor problem, so third-choice goalkeeper Tom Glover is set to deputise again.
Luke Ayling, George Edmundson, Aidan Morris, Tommy Conway and Jonny Howson are also missing due to injury, but Rav van den Berg is back in the fold after serving a suspension.
Hull City possible starting lineup:
Pandur; Drameh, Jones, McLoughlin, Jacob; Slater, Alzate, Puerta; Longman, Pedro, Burstow
Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Glover; Dijksteel, Fry, Van den Berg, Engel; Barlaser, Hackney; Doak, Azaz, Burgzorg; Latte Lath
We say: Hull City 0-1 Middlesbrough
Hull are among the lowest scorers in the Championship, and they will surely be seeking reinforcements during the January transfer window.
As a result, one goal might be enough for Middlesbrough to head home with maximum points, ending a frustrating run of draws.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
body check tags ::
Previews by email
