Two sides with promotion ambitions meet at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday as Middlesbrough welcome Blackpool to Teeside.

Tony Mowbray's hosts are just one point off the Championship top two and this is in no small part due to their impressive home form.

Only two sides have defeated Boro on their own turf this season, but Blackpool are proving difficult to beat under new manager Michael Appleton.

The Tangerines have lost only once since his appointment in November, with Nathan Delfouneso scoring a stoppage-time equaliser to salvage them a late point against Huddersfield Town on Boxing Day.

The Aston Villa loanee may be rewarded with a starting berth on Saturday, while Craig Cathcart is likely to continue in central defence after recovering from injury.

Matt Phillips is still sidelined with a toe problem but is expected to return shortly after the New Year.

Boro will be without Andre Bikey, who limped out at half time in the victory over Blackburn Rovers, but skipper Rhys Williams should be fit to deputise.

Recent form

Boro: WLWWLW

Blackpool: DLWDWD

Possible lineups

Boro: Steele; Hoyte, Williams, Woodgate, Friend; Leadbitter, McEachran, Ledesma; Emnes, Jutkiewicz, McDonald

Blackpool: Gilks; Baptiste, Broadfoot, Cathcart, Crainey; Basham, Osbourne, Gomes; Thomas, Ince, Delfouneso

Sports Mole says: 2-0