Relegation-threatened Middlesbrough play host to promotion-chasing Nottingham Forest in the Championship on Monday night.
Forest travel to the Riverside Stadium following a 1-0 win away to Cardiff City on Tuesday, whereas Boro have lost their last three league games by the same scoreline.
Match preview
© Reuters
Following Wigan Athletic's shock 1-0 victory over table-toppers West Bromwich Albion, Middlesbrough head into their clash with Nottingham Forest in the relegation zone on 37 points. Jonathan Woodgate's side are in a perilous position at the foot of the table, not helped by the recent form of their relegation rivals.
Fellow strugglers Barnsley and Luton Town have both enjoyed victories over Boro in the last few weeks, and with only eight wins from 35 matches, Woodgate's side have registered the joint-lowest number of wins in the second tier this season.
Middlesbrough produced a valiant performance against Leeds United last time out, but nevertheless succumbed to their third successive league defeat in front of the Riverside faithful. Boro have now gone 11 games without a win in all competitions since their New Year's Day victory over Preston North End.
Furthermore, Woodgate's side have only scored 34 goals in 35 matches this term, the lowest in the league. The pressure is ever-increasing on the 40-year-old boss, who faces an uphill battle to save his job and save his side from relegation.
© Reuters
In contrast, Nottingham Forest's 1-0 win away to Cardiff City could be the catalyst that Sabri Lamouchi needs to reinvigorate his side's promotion charge. Forest had gone three games without a win prior to their victory in the Welsh capital, and now lie fourth in the table.
Tiago Silva's goal was enough for Forest to overcome the Bluebirds, who head into this fixture on 59 points, nine short of second-placed Leeds after Marcelo Bielsa's side thrashed Hull City 4-0. Lamouchi's side also boast the third-best away record in the league, registering eight wins, seven draws and three losses from 18 outings.
Lewis Grabban provided the assist for Silva's winner in their triumph against Cardiff, however the 32-year-old has now gone six games without a goal despite his prolific early-season form.
The Englishman has notched up 16 goals in the 2019-20 campaign thus far, the third-highest in the league behind Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic and Brentford's Ollie Watkins, and will certainly be looking to end his drought against a struggling Middlesbrough side on Monday night.
Should Middlesbrough secure their first win at the Riverside since Boxing Day then they will climb out of the relegation zone into 19th, leapfrogging Wigan, Luton and Stoke City in the process. Forest will close the gap on third-placed Fulham to only one point with a victory.
The two sides shared the spoils earlier in the campaign, drawing 1-1 at the City Ground as Ryan Yates' 63rd-minute opener was cancelled out by Patrick McNair's penalty nine minutes from time.
Middlesbrough Championship form: DLDLLL
Nottingham Forest Championship form: LWLDDW
Team News
© Reuters
Woodgate has confirmed that George Friend and Ashley Fletcher suffered hamstring injuries after the pair were forced off in the defeat to Leeds, but neither are thought to be too serious.
The Boro boss conceded that it is too early for long-term absentees Patrick Roberts and Daniel Ayala to make a return, however both are said to be making good progress.
Should Fletcher be deemed not fit enough to face Forest, Britt Assombalonga is likely to lead the line against his former club.
Meanwhile, Forest have no fresh injury concerns going into Monday's game.
Striker Nuno Da Costa could potentially make a return to the squad after featuring for the Under-23s against Crewe Alexandra two weeks ago, but Samba Sow is likely to miss out.
Sow's absence could leave Lamouchi with the tough choice between Yates or Alfa Semedo to partner Ben Watson in midfield, both of whom played 45 minutes apiece in the Cardiff victory.
Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Pears; Howson, Shotton, Moukoudi, Coulson; McNair, Saville, Wing; Nmecha, Assombalonga, Tavernier
Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:
Samba; Cash, Worrall, Figueiredo, Ribiero; Watson, Semedo, Ameobi, Silva, Lolley; Grabban
We say: Middlesbrough 0-2 Nottingham Forest
Middlesbrough have struggled for goals all season, and while they showed signs of improvement against Leeds, Forest should have too much attacking quality for them as they look to further their promotion charge.
