Middlesbrough vs Burnley. Premier League.
Riverside StadiumAttendance29,547.
Saturday 8 April 2017 15:01, UK
Steve Agnew says Middlesbrough are determined to fight for their Premier League survival when they host Burnley on Saturday.
A 4-2 defeat by Hull in midweek left Boro 19th in the table, seven points from safety with eight games remaining.
"The players are positive towards getting the three points we need," said Boro head coach Agnew.
"Three points brings us closer and puts pressure on elsewhere. Confidence comes with results, and that's what we're aiming for. The fighting spirit is still there and it will be evident on the pitch."
Boro have not won in the league since December 17 and are the lowest scorers in the division with 22 goals in 30 games.
Burnley boosted their own survival hopes with a 1-0 victory over Stoke on Wednesday.
The win was Burnley's first since the start of February and moves them seven points clear of the relegation zone.
George Friend (ankle) and Calum Chambers (foot) are out for Middlesbrough while Gaston Ramirez is a doubt.
Fabio will not feature after suffering a head injury in the 0-0 draw with Swansea last weekend.
Steven Defour faces a fitness test after suffering a blow to the knee in Tuesday's victory over Stoke, a match that had seen the 28-year-old make his first start in more than two months after a hamstring injury.
Sean Dyche is hopeful Iceland winger Johann Berg Gudmundsson will soon be back in contention after returning to training, but he won't be involved this weekend. Midfielder Dean Marney (knee) is out for the rest of the season.
The last six league games between these two sides have contained just six goals (four for Boro, two for Burnley).
Middlesbrough are winless in their last five Premier League games at the Riverside, drawing three and losing two.
Middlesbrough have won nine of their last 11 home games against promoted sides in the Premier League (D1 L1).
Burnley are one of just two sides in the top four tiers of English league football this season yet to win an away league game (also Rotherham United).
The Clarets have failed to win any of their 15 away games in the Premier League this term (D3 L12); they last went 16 away games in the top flight without a win between August 2009 and March 2010.
Middlesbrough have scored the fewest goals (22), attempted the fewest shots on target (73) and had the fewest overall shots (273) in the Premier League this season.
Burnley have allowed their opponents to take more shots than any other team in the Premier League this season (560).
Middlesbrough are in trouble. They finally scored some goals in midweek but then went and conceded four in an extraordinary game at Hull. Now we've seen what happens to them when they chase a football match, and Burnley could get their first away win of the season here.
Another three points will probably be enough to keep Burnley up, while if Middlesbrough lose this they're as good as down.
Paul predicts: 1-2 (11/1 with Sky Bet)
Steve Agnew's men are up against odds of 8/1 to stay up following their midweek loss at Hull, while the Clarets are considered all but safe at 28/1 to go down after registering their 10th home win of the season.
Middlesbrough v Burnley is included in this weekend's Super 6 line-up, with £250,000 up for grabs for simply predicting the six correct scores. Enter your selections here
