TONY MOWBRAY has resisted the temptation to ring the changes for his first match in charge of Middlesbrough.

Mowbray has tinkered with the team that lost 1-0 at Norwich City by making three alterations to personnel, but there are no huge surprises.

Nicky Bailey and Leroy Lita have been left out of the starting line-up, while Gary O'Neil is injured. That has opened the door for Barry Robson, Scott McDonald and Mikael Tavares are recalled.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-5-1): Steele; McMahon, Wheater, McManus, Bates; Thomson, Tavares, Robson; Williams, Boyd, McDonald. Subs: Coyne (gk), Hoyte, Bailey, Kink, Lita, Miller, Hines.

BRISTOL CITY (4-4-2): James; McAllister, Fontaine, Carey, Caulker; Elliott, Johnson, Adomah, Rose; Haynes, Stead. Subs: Gerken (gk), Hunt, Stewart, Clarkson, Campbell-Ryce, Cisse, Pitman.