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Championship | Gameweek 38
Mar 16, 2024 at 3pm UK
Riverside Stadium
BL

Middlesbrough
0 - 0
Blackburn


Latte Lath (31'), Ayling (57'), Greenwood (90')
FT

Wharton (31'), Hedges (81'), Ayari (89')

Preview: Middlesbrough vs. Blackburn Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Middlesbrough vs. Blackburn Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between Middlesbrough and Blackburn Rovers, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Middlesbrough play host to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday afternoon knowing that victory will keep them very much alive in the Championship promotion race.

At a time when Boro sit in ninth position in the standings, Blackburn are down in 18th place, just three points above the relegation zone.


Match preview

With Middlesbrough having under-performed throughout this campaign, it would not have come as a surprise if Michael Carrick was removed from his position in the dugout.

However, that is now currently out of the question with Boro having impressively bounced back from a run of one win in eight games with three successive victories.

Norwich City, Queens Park Rangers and Birmingham City have each been defeated to keep the North East outfit as outsiders to make the playoffs at the end of the season.

Luck will still need to go their way - Boro remain five points adrift of sixth-placed Norwich City - yet momentum is building at a time when they can end the weekend just one point adrift of Coventry City - who are in FA Cup action - in eighth position.

This is the first time since October that Carrick's side have managed to post three triumphs in a row, with their most recent run in the second tier lasting six games.

There was a time under Jon Dahl Tomasson when Blackburn would either win or lose, sustained period of games passing by without a draw being posted.

In sharp contrast under John Eustace, six of Blackburn's last seven fixtures have ended in stalemate, including five in the Championship as they bid to avoid a relegation scrap.

Eustace would have had high hopes of overcoming at least one of Millwall or Plymouth Argyle - two rivals at the bottom end of the table - but they have had to settle for 1-1 draws at Ewood Park on both occasions.

On a positive note, Blackburn can view each point as a bonus having coming from behind to earn a share of the spoils with Millwall and played the final 36 minutes versus Plymouth with 10 men.

Nevertheless, they remain without a win since February 10 and are only three points above 23rd position, with the pressure well and truly on as they look to head into the international break on a high.

Middlesbrough Championship form:

Blackburn Rovers Championship form:


Blackburn Rovers form (all competitions):



Team News

A switch to a back three is currently working a treat for Middlesbrough and Carrick seems likely to select an unchanged starting lineup for this contest.

Finn Azaz and Sam Greenwood are both alternatives for the final third, but Boro will remain without the likes of Dael Fry, Hayden Hackney and Josh Coburn due to injury.

Eustace will make at least one change to his Blackburn side with Kyle McFadzean having been sent off against Plymouth.

Harry Pickering could switch from wing-back to feature on the left-hand side of a back three, with Ben Chrisene potentially returning to the side.

Tyrhys Dolan is pushing to take the spot of Sam Gallagher in the final third, but the likes of Hayden Carter and John Fleck remain on the sidelines through injury.


Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Dieng; McNair, Van den Berg, Clarke; Ayling, Howson, O'Brien, Engel; McGree; Forss, Latte Lath

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:
Wahlstedt; Hyam, Wharton, Pickering; Brittain, Buckley, Ayari, Chrisene; Gallagher, Sigurdsson; Szmodics


We say: Middlesbrough 2-1 Blackburn Rovers

With Blackburn having kept their points tally ticking over with draws, that result cannot be ruled out here. However, Boro are beginning to build up a head of steam and we are backing Carrick's side to edge this contest in the closing stages.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.




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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds32209366194769
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd32216546232367
3Burnley32171323993064
4Sunderland321711449282162
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn32146123731648
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom321114741301147
7Bristol City32111294036445
8Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds32129114548-345
9Middlesbrough31128115042844
10Coventry CityCoventry32128124240244
11Norwich CityNorwich321110115044643
12Watford32126144248-642
13Queens Park RangersQPR321011113541-641
14Millwall311010113132-140
15Preston North EndPreston3191393438-440
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd32911123445-1138
17Swansea CitySwansea32107153343-1037
18Portsmouth3289153955-1633
19Stoke CityStoke31711132839-1132
20Cardiff CityCardiff31710143453-1931
21Derby CountyDerby3278173342-929
22Hull City3178163142-1129
23Plymouth ArgylePlymouth31610153464-3028
24Luton TownLuton3176183051-2127
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