Second face third in the Championship when Watford travel to the Riverside to take on Middlesbrough this weekend, with just two points currently separating the two teams.

Watford briefly moved to the top of the table at the weekend, but their 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest earlier this week allowed Derby County to move above them.

The Hornets are unbeaten in their last seven outings, and a win this weekend could be enough for them to reclaim top spot in the division.

Slavisa Jokanovic is likely to be without Almen Abdi for the trip after he was forced off with a shoulder injury earlier this week, while the head coach also confirmed that Troy Deeney is not yet fit enough for a place in the starting XI.

Meanwhile, the hosts will be looking for a win that would see them move above their opponents and into the automatic promotion places.

Aitor Karanka's side lost for the first time since August when they were beaten 2-0 by Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this week, leaving them three points off the top of the table.

There are no fresh injury concerns for the manager, but he may promote Kike and Lee Tomlin to his starting lineup after bringing them both on for the final 25 minutes at Molineux.

When the sides last played in February this year, both teams finished with 10 men on the pitch, but it was Watford who came away with the win.

Recent form

Middlesbrough: WDDWWL

Watford: DDWDWD

Possible starting lineups

Middlesbrough: Konstantopoulos, Fredericks, Ayala, Omeruo, Friend, Adomah, Leadbitter, Whitehead, Tomlin, Vossen, Kike

Watford: Gomes, Paredes, Ekstrand, Bassong, Pudil, Murray, Tozser, Munari, Vydra, Forestieri, Ighalo

Sports Mole says: 1-1