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Championship | Gameweek 44
Apr 24, 2021 at 3pm UK
Riverside Stadium
SW

Middlesbrough
3 - 1
Sheff Weds

Bolasie (20'), Coburn (73'), Watmore (81')
McNair (27')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Windass (39' pen.)

Preview: Middlesbrough vs. Sheffield Wednesday - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Middlesbrough vs. Sheffield Wednesday - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Relegation-threatened Sheffield Wednesday travel to Middlesbrough on Saturday afternoon, looking for a win to keep their hopes of Championship survival alive.

The Owls could be relegated to League One if they lose at the Riverside and if other results go against them, while the hosts have nothing to play for heading into the final three matches of the season.


Match preview

In the absence of manager Darren Moore, who is suffering from pneumonia triggered by his contraction of coronavirus, Sheffield Wednesday claimed three crucial points on Tuesday night when they beat Blackburn Rovers 1-0 at Hillsborough.

A strike from Josh Windass in the 37th minute helped the Owls move to within four points of Derby County, who lost on the same evening against Preston North End and who Wednesday will face on the final day of the season.

The Owls now need at least two more wins from their final three games if they are to avoid dropping down to League One – a division they last competed in during the 2011-12 campaign – although they still have to rely on other results going in their favour.

Two of their final three matches are away from home, which is where they have struggled in recent weeks. Wednesday have lost eight of their last 10 away games in the Championship, conceding three or more goals in four of their last six on the road.

Victory on Saturday is vital and could move Moore's side up to 18th place, one point behind Derby if they were to lose at home to Birmingham City.

Unlike the Owls, Middlesbrough have nothing but a top-half finish to play for after a poor run of form which has seen them slip out of contention for a playoff spot.

A 2-0 victory in March against Preston North End moved Neil Warnock's side to within six points of the top six with eight matches left to play. However, they have accumulated just four points from six games since then, which now sees Boro 14 points behind Barnsley in sixth place.

Middlesbrough ended this poor spell with a 2-1 win away at Rotherham United on Wednesday, as strikes from George Saville and Chuba Akpom helped turn the game on its head after Angus MacDonald gave the hosts an early lead.

Warnock will now face a Sheffield Wednesday side who he has only beaten once in his seven meetings against them as a manager.

Middlesbrough are currently the only Championship side who have lost as many matches as they have won so far this season, but a victory on Saturday would see them claim their 18th victory this campaign and could move them as high as eighth in the table.

Middlesbrough Championship form:
  • L
  • L
  • D
  • L
  • L
  • W

Sheffield Wednesday Championship form:
  • L
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • D
  • W


Team News

Warnock has confirmed that strikers Britt Assombalonga and Ashley Fletcher have both played their last game for the club, with their contracts expiring at the end of this season.

Akpom, Duncan Watmore and Yannick Bolasie are set to lead the line for Middlesbrough in their final three matches as a result.

Boro are still expected be without Nathanial Mendez-Laing (thigh), Sam Morsy (knee), Dael Fry (calf), Marcus Browne (knee), Marcus Tavernier (hamstring) and Anfernee Dijksteel (ankle) through injury.

A back three of Paddy McNair, Grant Hall and Marc Bola is set to start once again for Warnock's side, with Marvin Johnson and Neeskens Kebano operating on the flanks.

For Sheffield Wednesday, interim manager Jamie Smith could name the same starting lineup that beat Blackburn on Wednesday.

Isaiah Brown and Elias Kachunga both missed the game in midweek due to illness, and Joost van Aken was also absent after picking up a knock in training. However, Smith has stated that all three are now in contention to feature this weekend.

Keiren Westwood appears to have won back the number one jersey from Joe Wildsmith and is set to start his fourth successive game.

Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Bettinelli; McNair, Hall, Bola; Kebano, Howson, Saville, Johnson; Watmore, Akpom, Bolasie

Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:
Westwood; Hutchinson, Lees, Borner; Palmer, Pelupessy, Bannan, Reach; Windass, Harris; Rhodes


We say: Middlesbrough 1-2 Sheffield Wednesday

Sheffield Wednesday have far more riding on Saturday's fixture than Middlesbrough and that necessity to win could push the Owls over the line. Indeed, we feel that the visitors will keep their hopes of survival alive and claim all three points against an out-of-form Boro outfit.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data




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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds38257670284282
2Leicester CityLeicester37264774334182
3Ipswich TownIpswich38249580493181
4Southampton36227773472673
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom381991059362366
6Norwich CityNorwich381871369541561
7Hull City371610115346758
8Coventry CityCoventry3715121059431657
9Preston North EndPreston37168134954-556
10Middlesbrough38166165352154
11Cardiff CityCardiff38165174351-853
12Sunderland38146184845348
13Watford381212145351248
14Bristol City38138174245-347
15Swansea CitySwansea381210164858-1046
16Millwall381110173650-1443
17Blackburn RoversBlackburn38119185164-1342
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth381011175462-841
19Stoke CityStoke38118193553-1841
20Queens Park RangersQPR381010183650-1440
21Birmingham CityBirmingham38109194259-1739
22Huddersfield TownHuddersfield38815154261-1939
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds38115223061-3138
24Rotherham UnitedRotherham38311243077-4720
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