SM
Inter Milan vs. Como: 18 hrs 41 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
ML
Championship
May 2, 2015 at 12.15pm UK
 
BL

0-0

 
FT

Preview: Middlesbrough vs. Brighton & Hove Albion

:Headline: Preview: Middlesbrough vs. Brighton & Hove Albion: ID:220272: from db_amp
Sports Mole previews the Championship clash between third-placed Middlesbrough and Brighton & Hove Albion at the Riverside.

Two sides at opposite ends of the table go head to head on the final day of the Championship season when Middlesbrough host Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend.

Aitor Karanka's side are all but certain to miss out on automatic promotion, while Brighton are still breathing a sigh of relief as they narrowly avoided relegation.



Middlesbrough

With Bournemouth three points clear of Boro and with a 19-goal superior goal difference heading into this match, it would take a miracle for the home side to secure the second automatic promotion spot in their final game of the season.

A win would guarantee Aitor Karanka's side third spot in the table, theoretically giving them the easiest route through the playoffs as they seek to end a five-season stay in the second tier.

Boro came out on the wrong side of a 4-3 thriller with Fulham at Craven Cottage last time out, leaving them with two defeats in their last five outings, which has surely cost them a place in the top two.

Despite letting in four goals last time out, Middlesbrough still have the best defence in the division, having conceded just 37 times so far this season while keeping 20 clean sheets in 45 outings, which is eight goals fewer than next-best Bournemouth.

They have not been as clinical down the other end though, averaging just over 1.5 goals per match, giving them the eighth-best attack in the league behind the likes of Brentford and Nottingham Forest, who both sit outside the playoff places.

The club's top goal scorer this season has been on-loan Chelsea striker Patrick Bamford, with 19 goals in 42 appearances in all competitions, but he has not found the target in their last two outings, a run he will be keen to end this weekend.

Recent form: WLWWWL



Brighton & Hove Albion

It has been a close call for the Seagulls this year, with Chris Hughton's side sitting just five points clear of the already-relegated bottom three ahead of their final fixture of the campaign.

Brighton have struggled in recent weeks, losing five of their six previous matches, while also drawing with Huddersfield, although several of their matches have come against sides in contention at the other end of the table, including last weekend when they lost 2-0 to Watford.

This weekend's visitors to the Riverside's only win in their last 10 outings was a 1-0 victory over Blackburn back in March thanks to an own goal from Matt Kilgallon.

Despite their lowly league position, Brighton have been defensively strong this campaign, conceding just 54 goals, which is the same as Wolverhampton Wanderers, who sit just outside the playoffs places, and only one more than sixth-placed Derby County.

Going forward is where the team has struggled though, scoring just 44 goals, less than one per match, so far; only the three relegated sides and Sheffield Wednesday have found the back of the net fewer times.

Even with victory, Brighton, who have contested the playoffs for the last two seasons, cannot finish higher than 19th this season, giving them their lowest finish since their promotion from League One in 2011.

Recent form: LLLWLL



Team News

The home side will be missing George Friend as he is suspended after picking up a red card in the defeat to Fulham last weekend.

Karanka has revealed that he is likely to start Dwight Tiendalli at left-back in place of Friend, but that he is wary of making too many changes to his side.

Mustapha Carayol has just returned to Boro after a loan spell with Brighton to regain fitness after an ACL tear, but the manager has said that he is likely to rest him this weekend, saving him for the inevitable playoffs.

The visitors will still be without Sam Baldock as he continues to battle a knee problem, while Solly March is back in training following a calf problem, but is unlikely to feature.

Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Konstantopoulos, Ayala, Gibson, Tiendalli, Fredericks, Clayton, Leadbitter, Adomah, Vossen, Tomlin, Bamford

Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Stockdale, Halford, Greer, Dunk, Bruno, Kayal, Stephens, Forster-Caskey, Bennett, Carayol, O'Grady



Head To Head

In their meeting at the Amex Stadium earlier in the season, Boro secured a 2-1 victory, giving them back-to-back wins over this weekend's opponents.

The most recent two meetings between these two teams at the Riverside though have both ended in away wins for Brighton.

There have been just 13 previous fixtures between these two teams, with Middlesbrough winning more than half, while Brighton have won four and two have ended in a draw.



Video Preview

Hit play below to see what the Sports Mole Sofa had to say about this encounter:



We say: Middlesbrough 2-0 Brighton & Hove Albion

Middlesbrough still need the win to make sure that they finish third in the table, leaving them with a theoretically easier path through the playoffs, and they will be hoping that Brighton do not end their winless run. Boro have historically done well against Brighton, so should be confident of securing all three points this weekend.



amp_article__220272 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2015-05-01 16:30:24:
html db last update - 2015-05-01 16:30:24 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Read more!
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd22155232112148
2Leeds UnitedLeeds22136341152645
3Burnley2212822891944
4Sunderland22127334181643
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn2111462518737
6Middlesbrough22105738281035
7West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom22811326161035
8Watford2110473028234
9Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds229582830-232
10Millwall217772118328
11Swansea CitySwansea227692424027
12Bristol City226972628-227
13Norwich CityNorwich226883734326
14Queens Park RangersQPR2251072328-525
15Luton TownLuton2274112538-1325
16Derby CountyDerby2266102728-124
17Coventry CityCoventry2266102834-624
18Preston North EndPreston2241172229-723
19Stoke CityStoke2257102330-722
20Portsmouth204882535-1020
21Hull City2247112131-1019
22Cardiff CityCardiff2146111934-1518
23Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2146112137-1618
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2146112245-2318
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .