May 12, 2018 at 5.15pm UK at ​Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 29,233
Middlesbrough
0-1
Aston Villa

Friend (45'), Gibson (49')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Jedinak (15')
Hourihane (13'), Snodgrass (75')

Team News: Middlesbrough name unchanged starting XI for playoff clash with Aston Villa

Team News: Boro boss Pulis names unchanged XI
© SilverHub
Middlesbrough boss Tony Pulis names an unchanged starting XI for Saturday's Championship playoff semi-final first leg against Aston Villa.

Middlesbrough boss Tony Pulis has named an unchanged starting XI for Saturday's Championship playoff semi-final first leg against Aston Villa.

Boro ended the regular season with a 2-2 draw against Ipswich Town last weekend and Pulis stated that he would keep faith with the same players from that game.

This means that striker Patrick Bamford, who has scored 13 goals this season, will begin the game on the bench, and Britt Assombalonga will lead the line at the Riverside Stadium.

As for Villa, John Terry returns to the heart of defence and Jack Grealish, Robert Snodgrass and Lewis Grabban all start.

Albert Adomah has got the nod at wide left against his old club despite Jonathan Kodjia's recent return from injury.

Sam Johnstone has made it to play in goal after his partner gave birth last night, while former playoff winner Mile Jedinak will play in midfield alongside Conor Hourihane.

Middlesbrough: Randolph; Shotton, Ayala, Gibson, Friend; Clayton, Besic, Howson; Traore, Downing, Assombalonga
Subs: Dimi, Cranie, Fabio, Fry, Leadbitter, Harrison, Bamford

Aston Villa: Johnstone; Elmohamady, Chester, Terry, Hutton; Jedinak; Snodgrass, Hourihane, Adomah, Grealish; Grabban
Subs: Bunn, Samba, Whelan, Bjarnason, Onomah, Hogan, Kodjia

Follow all the action from the Riverside Stadium with Sports Mole's live match commentary.

Share this article now:
Baggies boss Tony Pulis reacts on September 10, 2016
Read Next:
Pulis: Villa "will be big favourites"
>

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CWolverhampton WanderersWolves46309782394399
3Fulham462513879463388
4Aston Villa4624111172423083
5Middlesbrough4622101467452276
6Derby CountyDerby4620151170482275
7Preston North EndPreston4619161157461173
8Millwall4619151256451172
9Brentford4618151362521069
10Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd46209176255769
11Bristol City461716136758967
12Ipswich TownIpswich46179205760-360
13Leeds UnitedLeeds46179205964-560
14Norwich CityNorwich461515164960-1160
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds461415175960-157
16Queens Park RangersQPR461511205870-1256
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest46158235165-1453
18Hull City461116197070049
19Birmingham CityBirmingham46137263868-3046
20Reading461014224870-2244
21Bolton WanderersBolton461013233974-3543
RBarnsley46914234872-2441
RBurton Albion461011253881-4341
RSunderland46716235280-2837

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
Login, I already have my ad-free pass
Log in with Facebook to customise Sports Mole
Buy ad-free access (show me the options)
Buy monthly ad-free access for £1.20/month
Buy yearly ad-free access for £12 (2 months free)
Settings - Logout - Manage your account
Settings - Logout - Manage your account
LIVE SCORES VIDEPRINTER
expand