Middlesbrough vs Blackburn Rovers. Sky Bet Championship.
Riverside StadiumAttendance21,985.
Friday 7 December 2018 12:07, UK
Middlesbrough will be without defender Dael Fry for their home game against former boss Tony Mowbray's Blackburn.
Fry was forced out of last Saturday's home defeat to Aston Villa after clashing heads with Yannick Bolasie and will not feature.
Fellow defender Ryan Shotton could make a timely return to contention after being sidelined since mid-October with a knee injury. Boss Tony Pulis has no other new injury concerns, but forward Rudy Gestede is expected to miss out again due to a hamstring strain.
Blackburn pair Darragh Lenihan and Amari'i Bell could both return to contention. Lenihan has missed the last two games due to a hip injury and Mowbray must decide whether to recall the Irishman or keep faith with Paul Downing.
Fellow defender Bell sat out last week's win against Sheffield Wednesday because of a tight hamstring. Midfielder Elliott Bennett is out after sustaining a small metatarsal fracture so Craig Conway is expected to start again.
Middlesbrough have won two of their last 17 matches against Blackburn in all competitions (D7 L8); both matches came in the 2012-13 season, when they were managed by current Rovers boss Tony Mowbray.
Blackburn are winless in five league visits to the Riverside Stadium against Middlesbrough (D4 L1) since a 2-1 win on the opening day of the 2007-08 Premier League season.
In all competitions during his managerial career, Tony Pulis has never lost at home against Blackburn Rovers (P6 W4 D2 L0).
Since the start of last season, Bradley Dack has had a hand in more league goals than any other Blackburn player (27 goals, 11 assists).
Middlesbrough conceded as many goals versus Aston Villa (3) as they did in their previous 10 home league games combined.
All 22 of Middlesbrough's league goals this season have come inside the box - the only 100% such record in the Championship.
Middlesbrough have the best defence in the Championship but they were absolutely blown away by Aston Villa last weekend. It was the first time they had conceded three goals in a league game all season and I'm sure Tony Pulis would have had a few words to say to his team afterwards.
Blackburn got back to winning ways against Sheffield Wednesday and Bradley Dack, their key man, looks to be right back on top of his game. Rovers haven't been great on the road this season but I have a feeling they could sneak this one!
David Prutton predicts: 0-1 (11/1 with Sky Bet)
