Cooper: Caretaker Boro boss
Middlesbrough begin life without Gareth Southgate with a difficult trip to Championship promotion rivals Preston on Saturday.
Boro sacked former boss Southgate after the midweek win over Derby and Colin Cooper will take caretaker charge for the trip to Deepdale.
Preston, though, will not be in a sympathetic mood and will want to take points in the race for a place in the Premier League.
The home side have been boosted by the news that Callum Davidson should make his long-awaited return from injury.
Davidson has been out since September after tearing his hamstring while playing for Scotland but is back in training and Alan Irvine, who has been linked with the vacant Boro job, is confident his skipper will be back on the pitch.
Davidson's return will see Andy Lonergan give up the captain's armband.
Paul Parry could start after being named as an unused substitute in the victory over Sheffield Wednesday as he continues his comeback from a hamstring injury.
Midfielder Barry Nicholson remains out with a broken leg but Irvine has an otherwise fully-fit squad to choose from.
Middlesbrough will have experienced midfielder Julio Arca at their disposal as the Argentine returns from suspension.
Seb Hines also sat out the game against the Rams with a knee injury and remains doubtful.
But skipper Emanuel Pogatetz has been an unused substitute for the last two games following his recovery from knee surgery and will hope for some involvement.
Long-term absentees Chris Riggott and Andrew Taylor (both ankle), Caleb Folan (hamstring) and Matthew Bates (knee) remain sidelined.
Preston v Middlesbro'. Click here to bet.| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Monday 23rd November | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 19:45 | Preston vs Newcastle |
| Saturday 28th November | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Bristol City vs Sheff Utd |
| 15:00 | Crystal Palace vs Watford |
| 15:00 | Derby vs Reading |
| 15:00 | Newcastle vs Swansea |
| 15:00 | Nottm Forest vs Doncaster |
| 15:00 | Peterborough vs Middlesbrough |
| 15:00 | Plymouth vs Barnsley |
| 15:00 | QPR vs Coventry |
| 15:00 | Scunthorpe vs Leicester |
| 15:00 | Sheff Wed vs West Brom |
| Sunday 29th November | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Cardiff vs Ipswich |
| Monday 30th November | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 20:00 | Blackpool vs Preston |
| Saturday 5th December | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 13:00 | Nottm Forest vs Leicester |
| 15:00 | Blackpool vs Barnsley |
| 15:00 | Bristol City vs Ipswich |
| 15:00 | Cardiff vs Preston |
| 15:00 | Crystal Palace vs Doncaster |
| 15:00 | Derby vs West Brom |
| 15:00 | Newcastle vs Watford |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Saturday 21st November | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| West Brom 4 - 1 Bristol City | |
| Middlesbrough 1 - 1 Nottm Forest | |
| Doncaster 2 - 0 QPR | |
| Watford 3 - 0 Scunthorpe | |
| Barnsley 1 - 0 Cardiff | |
| Reading 2 - 1 Blackpool | |
| Sheff Utd 1 - 0 Peterborough | |
| Coventry 1 - 1 Crystal Palace | |
| Ipswich 0 - 0 Sheff Wed | |
| Leicester 1 - 0 Plymouth | |
| Friday 20th November | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Swansea 1 - 0 Derby | |
| Monday 9th November | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Barnsley 2 - 2 Sheff Utd | |
| Saturday 7th November | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Swansea 3 - 2 Cardiff | |
| Crystal Palace 1 - 0 Middlesbrough | |
| Nottm Forest 1 - 1 Bristol City | |
| Leicester 1 - 2 West Brom | |
| Blackpool 4 - 1 Scunthorpe | |
| Watford 2 - 0 Preston | |
| Reading 1 - 1 Ipswich | |
| Plymouth 2 - 1 Doncaster | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Bromwich Albion | 17 | 34 |
| 2 | Newcastle United | 16 | 33 |
| 3 | Leicester City | 17 | 30 |
| 4 | Swansea City | 17 | 28 |
| 5 | Cardiff City | 17 | 27 |
| 6 | Queens Park Rangers | 17 | 27 |
| 7 | Blackpool | 17 | 27 |
| 8 | Watford | 17 | 27 |
| 9 | Nottingham Forest | 17 | 26 |
| 10 | Bristol City | 17 | 26 |
| 11 | Middlesbrough | 17 | 25 |
| 12 | Preston North End | 16 | 24 |
| 13 | Crystal Palace | 17 | 23 |
| 14 | Sheffield United | 17 | 21 |
| 15 | Barnsley | 17 | 21 |
| 16 | Doncaster Rovers | 17 | 18 |
| 17 | Sheffield Wednesday | 17 | 18 |
| 18 | Coventry City | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | Derby County | 17 | 17 |
| 20 | Reading | 17 | 17 |
| 21 | Scunthorpe United | 17 | 17 |
| 22 | Plymouth Argyle | 17 | 15 |
| 23 | Ipswich Town | 17 | 13 |
| 24 | Peterborough United | 17 | 11 |
Manchester United can torpedo Liverpool's title hopes for good at Anfield on Sunday, says Andy Gray.
No Gerrard? No Torres? No points, says Paul Merson ahead of Liverpool's clash with Man United.