Looking to continue their assault towards the top-six places, Middlesbrough will welcome bottom side Rotherham United to the Riverside Stadium in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.

Boro recorded a comeback success in the capital against Millwall last time out, while the Millers were sentenced to another loss by a brilliant Stoke City free-kick.

Match preview

Middlesbrough secured their first win in the Championship of the calendar year after a spirited display at The Den against Joe Edwards's Millwall despite a raft of injuries, however the contest started badly for the visitors, as Joe Bryan handed the Lions a 10th-minute lead.

On a mission to avoid back-to-back second-tier defeats, Boro completed a sensational comeback thanks to strikes from Lukas Engel, Isaiah Jones and substitute Marcus Forss, meaning the Teessiders have now won consecutive away matches in the Championship as they aim to seal a top-six standing.

Carrick's men have cherished a full week to prepare for the visit of relegation-threatened Rotherham this weekend, with Middlesbrough facing a particularly-congested January to date which has seen them move to within just 90 minutes of an EFL Cup final berth at the expense of Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea.

Before the all-important second leg at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, Boro will be looking to close the one-point gap to sixth-placed Coventry City in the second-tier standings, although the highly-congested nature of the Championship means the Teessiders are just three points ahead of Bristol City in 14th.

Following the departures of Chuba Akpom and Cameron Archer over the summer, Middlesbrough have been forced to share the goalscoring responsibility around their ranks this term, with Emmanuel Latte Lath, Jones, Josh Coburn and Sam Greenwood all netting five each in the Championship so far.

After a promising three-match unbeaten spell at the end of the festive period, Rotherham United have commenced the bulk of the January schedule with back-to-back losses, exiting the FA Cup at the third-round stage at the hands of Premier League Fulham, before being defeated narrowly by Stoke last weekend in the Championship.

In a contest in which the Millers failed to register a shot onto Daniel Iversen's net, Potters midfielder Lewis Baker produced a moment of magic in the closing stages of the first period, with the former Chelsea man's curling free-kick effort breaching Viktor Johansson in the hosts' net.

Despite signs of improvement since the arrival of new manager Leam Richardson in the middle of December, Rotherham have tasted victory just once in seven Championship matches under the leadership of the former Wigan Athletic boss, with relegation looking increasingly likely as the weeks go by.

Managing just three wins from their opening 27 second-tier games, the Millers are rooted to the bottom of the league standings, currently eight points adrift of Darren Moore's Huddersfield Town in 21st, with matches against Southampton, Leeds United and Ipswich Town to come in the next month.

The away supporters at the Riverside this weekend will be not expecting much from their relegation-threatened troops, as Richardson's men have failed to win any of their 13 Championship outings this campaign, collecting just three points and scoring only eight goals away from the AESSEAL New York Stadium.

Team News

Middlesbrough are set to be without the services of two first-team strikers on Saturday, with Latte Lath and Coburn both recovering from their injuries, meaning Morgan Rogers and January arrival Finn Azaz could lead the line once again.

First-choice goalkeeper Seny Dieng is sidelined with a hip issue until later this month, so Thomas Glover will continue to deputise in between the sticks.

Riley McGree and Samuel Silvera are both away on Asian Cup duty as part of Australia's squad, with the Socceroos making it through to the knockout stages in Qatar earlier this week.

Rotherham centre-back Grant Hall is set to have a second hip injection as he looks to salvage an injury-ravaged campaign, and although the 32-year-old is back on the grass, the former Middlesbrough man is not ready for selection.

Shane Ferguson continues to struggle with Hernia issues, with the Northern Ireland international failing to feature for the Millers this season.

Richardson's options in defence remain limited due to the absences of Cameron Humphreys and Tyler Blackett, with the centre-back duo both sidelined because of hamstring injuries.

Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Glover; Ayling, Fry, Van den Berg, Engel; Jones, Howson, Barlaser, Greenwood; Azaz, Rogers

Rotherham United possible starting lineup:
Johansson; Peltier, Odoffin, Morrison, Revan, Bramall; Tiehi, Clucas, Rathbone; Hugill, Nombe

We say: Middlesbrough 2-0 Rotherham United

Should Middlesbrough be able to keep their focus on Saturday's clash amid plenty of excitement surrounding their EFL Cup antics, Boro will be more than good enough to beat Rotherham.

The Millers have been harmless on their travels this term, and we cannot envisage that changing at the Riverside, despite the hosts' unprecedented number of absentees.


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