Middlesbrough vs Sunderland Prediction: The teams are aiming for playoff spots

Middlesbrough will welcome Sunderland at Riverside Stadium in Game Week 30 of the English Championship. The teams are aiming for playoff spots. Who will come out on top after 90 minutes?

During the month of January, Michael Carrick faced the challenge of balancing a Championship playoff bid while also tackling Chelsea in the EFL Cup semi-finals. Despite leading 1-0 after the first leg, Middlesbrough made mistakes in the second leg, resulting in a 6-2 loss on aggregate. Since their last game on January 23, Carrick and his players have had time to reflect on this disappointment. However, they should now feel refreshed and ready to continue their efforts to secure promotion. Before their defeat at Stamford Bridge, Middlesbrough had earned four points from matches against Millwall and Rotherham United. Despite dropping to 11th place, they are only five points behind fifth-placed West Bromwich Albion as they approach the 153rd Tees-Wear derby. Although Morgan Rogers has left for Aston Villa, Carrick has the option of giving loanee Luke Thomas his Boro debut at left-back. Isaiah Jones is expected to sit out again due to a hamstring injury, which may result in Marcus Forss filling in on the right side. Goalkeeper Seny Dieng is also likely to return after Senegal's elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations. 

Dieng; Ayling, Fry, Clarke, Engel; Barlaser, Hackney; Forss, Crooks, Azaz; Greenwood

Sunderland has only won one of their last nine matches against Middlesbrough, back in January of last year. Their last victory at the Riverside Stadium was 12 years ago in the FA Cup. Michael Beale, Sunderland's manager, hopes to win over supporters who have been skeptical of his appointment and improve upon their recent results, including a 1-0 loss to Hull City. Despite their shortcomings, Sunderland bounced back with a much-needed 3-1 win against Stoke City. Beale's squad has lost six of their 14 away games this season, while Middlesbrough has also lost six games at home.

If there are no injury concerns, Beale may choose to stick with the Sunderland XI that started against Stoke, with Mason Burstow maintaining his position as the central attacker. Leo Hjelde, Callum Styles, and Romaine Mundle arrived before the January transfer window closed and could be included on the substitutes' bench.

Patterson; Seelt, Ballard, O'Nien, Hume; Ba, Ekwah, Neil, Bellingham, Clarke; Burstow

Given the inconsistency of both teams in the Championship, predicting the outcome of this match is challenging. While Sunderland may feel confident after their win over Stoke, we believe that Boro possesses enough quality to secure a draw.