Middlesbrough v Derby preview

Southgate: Under pressure

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Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate will be looking for an improvement in his team's home form as Derby County head to the Riverside.

Southgate is coming under increasing pressure on Teesside as he looks to guide Boro back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

His side have lost three home games in a row, failing to score in all three, and will be hoping the visit of Derby can lead to a change in fortunes.

Julio Arca will miss the game through suspension after picking up his fifth booking of the campaign in Saturday's 1-0 home defeat by Watford.

Defender Seb Hines, who had a spell on loan at Derby last season, will also be unavailable after suffering a knee injury in training.

Skipper Emanuel Pogatetz could play some part following his return from knee surgery to the 18 as an unused substitute at the weekend, while Rhys Williams has recovered from his international exertions with Australia.

But Chris Riggott and Andrew Taylor (both ankle), Caleb Folan (hamstring) and Matthew Bates (cruciate ligament) are still out.

Derby news

Derby have collected just two points away from home this season and Nigel Clough will be keen to secure a first win on the road.

Paul Dickov is pushing for a starting role after the on-loan striker was unable to play in Saturday's 0-0 draw away to parent club Leicester City.

However, Fredrik Stoor is a doubt after the Swedish defender, on loan from Fulham, was helped off 14 minutes from the end at Leicester after sustaining an ankle injury.

Paul Connolly, his replacement at the Walkers Stadium on Saturday, is in line to return to the starting line-up at right-back.

Lee Hendrie is also a doubt. The midfielder replaced Lee Croft after an hour at Leicester but was substituted himself soon afterwards because of a tight hamstring.

Clough, whose list of absentees is already into double figures, said: "It was precautionary to take him off because we could not risk him doing more damage. If the hamstring had gone, he would be out four to six weeks and we couldn't afford that."

Clough also still remains without Miles Addison, Paul Green, Giles Barnes, Chris Porter, Stephen Pearson, Ben Pringle, Steven Davies and on-loan James Vaughan.