Middlesbrough must be wondering where their next goal is going to come from having made it seven matches without finding the back of the net last Saturday.

A 1-0 defeat at the hands of Sheffield Wednesday increased their time without a goal to a whopping 704 minutes, with Emanuel Ledesma's 16th-minute strike against Charlton on January 18 the last time they registered on the scoresheet.

Such a run has well and truly ended Boro's chances of reaching the playoff this season as they now sit 12 points behind in-form Wigan having played a game more than the Latics.

Indeed, they now find themselves in midtable as just 13 points separate them from the bottom three, although it would take a freak set of results for them to be dragged into the relegation mire at this stage of the season.

Aitor Karanka's side have established themselves as draw specialists this season having shared the spoils 13 times - a tally only Nottingham Forest can match.

Their last three home games have ended all square, while their unbeaten streak at the Riverside now stretches to four games. However, a lack of goals has once again been the problem, with only one home goal in their last five matches in all competitions.

The upside to Boro's recent form is their defensive record. They have only let in four goals in their seven-match winless streak which, under different circumstances, would be lauded as a formidable backline.

However, if they continue to draw blanks then they will not win matches, and Karanka could bring in Lee Tomlin for his first start for the club in an effort to end the remarkable drought.

He will be without the suspended Dean Whitehead in midfield, while the injury-prone Jonathan Woodgate is once again a doubt for the match.

While Middlesbrough's playoff hopes have now all but evaporated, Ipswich will still be hoping for a late push to challenge for the top six.

They returned to winning ways in timely fashion with a 1-0 victory over Birmingham last Saturday, leaving them just four points behind Wigan, albeit having played a game more.

That victory ended a three-match winless streak for the Tractor Boys and also saw them score their first goal since February 8, a matter that was not helped by a season-ending injury to top scorer David McGoldrick.

Just one defeat in their last seven matches is a respectable record on first glance, but three of those games have ended all square which, with the likes of Wigan in fine form, is too many dropped points for a playoff-chasing team.

Mick McCarthy's side have only managed three away wins all season, and they all came in the space of four games in November and December.

Since then, they have once again struggled to pick up maximum points on the road and it is now six matches in all competitions since they last tasted an away victory.

In addition to McGoldrick, the visitors could also be without Anthony Wordsworth and Luke Hyam, both of whom are injury doubts.

Recent form

Middlesbrough: DDDLDL

Ipswich: DWDDLW

Possible starting lineups

Middlesbrough: Given; Varga, Omeruo, Gibson, Friend; Leadbitter, Chalobah; Butterfield, Tomlin, Adomah; Graham

Ipswich: Gerken; Chambers, Berra, Smith, Cresswell; Green, Tabb, Skuse, Anderson; Murphy, Nouble

Sports Mole says: 1-1