Blackburn vs Middlesbrough preview: Championship clash live on Sky Sports Football
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Sunday 17 February 2019 12:04, UK
Bradley Dack and Danny Graham are poised to return to Blackburn's starting line-up for Sunday's Sky Bet Championship clash with Middlesbrough at Ewood Park.
Playmaker Dack and former Boro striker Graham, who have scored 14 and 11 goals in all competitions respectively this season, each dropped to the bench for the 2-1 loss at Reading on Wednesday.
Rovers appeared to sustain no fresh injury problems in that defeat, their third in a row. Defender Darragh Lenihan remains sidelined by a knee problem.
Middlesbrough will be without two of their regular starters in defence in Aden Flint and Daniel Ayala. Fint has been ruled out after coming off injured in the first half of Wednesday's 1-0 loss at Sheffield United.
Ayala was subsequently sent off and must serve a one-match suspension. Boss Tony Pulis said on Friday there were "a couple of other injuries where we won't know until last minute."
Opta stats
Blackburn have lost just two of their last 17 league matches against Middlesbrough (W7 D8), both during the 2012-13 season when Boro were managed by Tony Mowbray.
Eight of the last 12 league meetings between Middlesbrough and Blackburn have ended as a draw (two wins apiece).
Blackburn have never lost four consecutive league matches under Tony Mowbray, last doing so in December 2016 under Owen Coyle.
Live EFL
Tony Pulis is unbeaten in his last eight league meetings with Blackburn Rovers (W6 D2) since a 0-3 defeat as Stoke boss in December 2008.
Excluding own-goals, each of Blackburn's last 91 league goals have been scored via players from either Great Britain or Ireland.
Middlesbrough have only lost consecutive away Championship matches under Tony Pulis once previously, doing so last February against Norwich and Cardiff.
Prutton's prediction
Blackburn were looking like they could kick on and push for the play-offs a couple of weeks ago, but three defeats on the spin have left them right back in mid-table.
Middlesbrough just cannot get any form of consistency going, and their defence could suffer from an injury to Aden Flint and a suspension for Daniel Ayala. Home win.
David Prutton predicts: 2-1 (10/1 with Sky Bet)
