English Championship: Game Week 21
Stadium: Riverside Stadium
13th December 2023
Middlesbrough will welcome Hull City at Riverside Stadium in Game Week 21 of the English Championship. Both teams are coming into the game on back of consecutive defeats. Who will come out on top after 90 minutes?
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Middlesbrough will be returning to the Riverside Stadium on Wednesday in hopes of getting back to their winning ways and securing a playoff spot in the Championship this season. They have recently fallen behind after suffering back-to-back defeats.
Under the management of Michael Carrick, Middlesbrough initially struggled at the start of the campaign. However, they quickly turned things around and entered the race for the top spots in the league. Between late September and the end of November, they won eight out of eleven matches, including a convincing 4-0 victory over Preston North End. This strong run of form led them to accumulate 27 points from 18 games, with goals from Isaiah Jones, Rav van den Berg, and Alex Bangura.
Despite being within reach of the top six, Middlesbrough have failed to boost their playoff chances in their last two matches. Their first defeat came against Leeds United, where they played the final 30 minutes with 10 men. Emmanuel Latte Lath kept them in the game with two goals, but they ultimately lost 3-2. Their second loss was against Ipswich Town, who secured a 2-0 victory with goals from Conor Chaplin and Omari Hutchinson.
Now sitting in 12th place, Middlesbrough still have a chance to make up ground in the division, as the middle of the table remains tightly contested. They are just three points away from the playoff positions. Their main goal is to halt their slump and return to winning ways on their home ground on Wednesday. A win would bring them level with their upcoming opponents and close the gap to the top six once again.
Middlesbrough Predicted Lineup
Dieng; Dijksteel, Clarke, Fry, Engel; Barlaser, Howson; Jones, Greenwood, Rogers; Latte Lath
Hull City form
Hull City is looking to recover from two disappointing results and strengthen their position in the playoffs. Under the management of Liam Rosenior, they have had a positive start to the season. Despite finishing 15th last season, they have consistently been around the top six this season. They secured a 1-0 victory over Huddersfield Town in early November, giving them 26 points from 16 matches. They continued their good form with a 2-2 draw against Swansea City and a 4-1 win over Rotherham United. However, they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Watford and a 2-0 defeat to Queens Park Rangers in their last two matches. Despite these setbacks, they are still in contention for a playoff spot and will look to bounce back in their upcoming away fixture.
Hull City Predicted Lineup
Allsop; Christie, McLoughlin, Greaves, Coyle; Seri, Morton; Connolly, Twine, Philogene; Delap
Middlesbrough vs Hull City Expert Tips
Both teams could have a slight lack of confidence after their recent losses, but they should certainly view their upcoming meeting on Wednesday as a significant match in their pursuit of the playoffs. Both teams are eager to get back on track and avoid a third consecutive defeat. Given their comparable abilities and recent performances, we predict that a draw is the most probable result at the Riverside Stadium.