Middlesbrough return to action when they take on Swansea City in the Championship on Saturday.
Here are all the details you need to know about the game…
WHERE IS THE GAME TAKING PLACE?
After cruising past Reading at the Riverside last weekend, Boro are making one of their longest trips of the season this weekend as they head to south Wales to take on Swansea City at the Swansea.com Stadium.
The two sides met on Teesside in late August, with first-half goals from Riley McGree and Matt Crooks enabling Boro to claim a 2-1 win that was their first victory of the season.
Middlesbrough’s away record at Swansea is extremely poor, with the Teessiders having failed to win any of their last seven away games against the Swans. Their last success came back in August 2009, when goals from Adam Johnson, Marvin Emnes and Tuncay Sanil secured a 3-0 success.
WHAT TIME IS KICK-OFF?
Saturday’s game kicks off at 3pm.
ARE TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE?
No – Middlesbrough are no longer selling tickets for the away end for Saturday’s game.
Middlesbrough’s Travel Club is running a coach to the game, with prices £47 for adults and £42 for Under-18s. Buses will be leaving the Riverside at 6.30am on Saturday morning, and all Under-16s must be accompanied by an adult.
IS THE GAME BEING TELEVISED OR STREAMED LIVE?
No, Saturday’s game is not being televised live, although highlights will be available on the EFL Highlights Show on ITV4 at 9pm on Saturday evening.
With the game falling in the Football League’s Saturday 3pm slot, there will be no domestic streaming in the UK.
Radio commentary will be available on BBC Radio Tees, and The Northern Echo’s Scott Wilson will be at the Liberty Stadium providing a live blog, report, ratings, reaction and analysis.
WHAT IS MIDDLESBROUGH’S LIKELY LINE-UP?
Paddy McNair remains an injury concern for Boro, with the Northern Ireland international having been forced to miss last weekend’s win over Reading because of the facial injury sustained in the previous weekend’s defeat to West Brom.
Dael Fry partnered Darragh Lenihan at centre-half last weekend, and could continue in the starting line-up even if McNair is passed fit for the Swansea game.
Aaron Ramsey got the nod to start ahead of Marcus Forss last weekend, and Carrick will have to decide whether to name the same midfield on Saturday or shuffle his pack again. Ramsey scored twice against Reading, with Forss also netting after leaving the bench.
Dan Barlaser is also a candidate for a starting spot in midfield if Carrick opts to rest either Jonny Howson or Hayden Hackney with half an eye on Tuesday’s home game with Stoke City.
Middlesbrough (probable, 4-2-3-1): Steffen; Smith, Fry, Lenihan, Giles; Howson, Hackney; Forss, Akpom, McGree; Archer.
HOW ARE SWANSEA SHAPING UP?
Swansea head into Saturday’s game sitting in 17th position in the Championship table, 11 points clear of the relegation zone but 12 points adrift of the play-off positions.
Russell Martin’s side have won just one of their last nine matches in all competitions, and were beaten 1-0 at Luton last weekend.
Joe Allen suffered a muscular injury in the first half of that defeat at Loftus Road, and the veteran midfielder is a doubt for Saturday’s game. His absence would be a major blow to the Swans, who could also be without Matt Grimes for the second game in a row.
Jamie Paterson has been frozen out for much of the current campaign, but with his position coming under increasing pressure from a disgruntled fanbase, Martin restored the veteran forward to the squad last weekend and brought him on for the final 13 minutes of the game. He is expected to feature in the matchday 18 again against Boro.
Swansea (probable, 3-4-3): Fisher; Cabango, Wood, Latibeaudiere; Sorinola, Whittaker, Fulton, Manning; Cundle, Piroe, Cooper.
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