Middlesbrough v Swansea preview
Thursday 20 September 2018 17:20, UK
Middlesbrough boss Tony Pulis will assess his troops before naming a side to face Swansea after a gruelling week in the Sky Bet Championship.
Pulis freshened things up in the wake of Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Norwich, resting Dael Fry and Britt Assombalonga for the first time in the league this season, as well as Mohamed Besic, for Wednesday night's 2-0 win over Bolton.
George Saville, Martin Braithwaite and Jordan Hugill got the nod against Wanderers, but with Darren Randolph, Ryan Shotton, Aden Flint, George Friend, Adam Clayton, Jonny Howson and Stewart Downing having started all Boro's Championship fixtures to date, the manager could make further changes.
Rudy Gestede played 66 minutes for the Under-23s in their 3-2 win at West Brom earlier in the week, but the striker remains short of full match fitness.
Swansea boss Graham Potter has been handed a double boost ahead of the trip to Teesside.Midfielders Tom Carroll and Jay Fulton missed Tuesday night's 1-0 defeat at Stoke because of hip and head injuries respectively, but have been passed fit for the game at the Riverside Stadium.
However, Leroy Fer (groin) and Bersant Celina (ankle ligaments) are likely to miss out once again, while Jefferson Montero and Wilfried Bony are still on the casualty list. Striker Courtney Baker-Richardson will sit out as he completes a three-match ban following his sending-off at Millwall on September 1.
Opta stats
Middlesbrough have lost just one of their last nine home league matches against Swansea (W5 D3), though it was the last time they met in the Championship in February 2011.
Swansea failed to score against Middlesbrough in both matches during the 2016-17 season in the Premier League, their most recent league meetings.
Tony Pulis' last league meeting with Swansea outside the top-flight was in April 1994 with Bournemouth in a third tier match - the Swans, managed by Frank Burrows, won 1-0.
Swansea have failed to score in six of their last nine away league games, though they've not lost when they have found the net in that run (W2 D1).
Excluding play-offs, Middlesbrough have won their last six home league matches played on Saturday.
Oli McBurnie has scored four of Swansea's seven league goals this season, including three of their last four.
Prutton's prediction
Middlesbrough got back to winning ways on Wednesday night as they comfortably beat Bolton at home. Tony Pulis' side have been imperious at the Riverside Stadium this season with four wins from four and no goals conceded.
Swansea were very unfortunate to lose to that Joe Allen goal in midweek against Stoke. They'll have another good go but I reckon that Boro will just overpower them and edge the three points.
David Prutton predicts: 1-0 (9/2 with Sky Bet)
