QUEENS Park Rangers travel in trepidation to the North East as a steady Middlesbrough side plays host to inconsistent visitors.
Following a demoralising defeat at Sheffield Wednesday, Harry Redknapp’s men will be looking to buck a trend of disappointing away performances.
Middlesbrough meanwhile are totting up points in mid-table by virtue of a glut of stalemates but have fallen off the pace of the playoff pack, boss Aitor Karanca however will be keen to take a useful scalp as he builds his squad.
Two teams in need of a victory for different reasons – it will be Redknapp’s men that need to keep the wolves at bay below them if they are to firm up a playoff place.
TEAM NEWS
Middlesbrough will be without Grant Leadbitter (suspended) and Mustapha Carayol (knee ligaments) for today’s clash. Aitor Karanca will call on either Nat Chalobah or Jacob Butterfield to step into Leadbitter’s shoes while former Rs maverick Emmanuel Ledesma could also enter the fray.
Rangers could welcome back Rob Green and Danny Simpson from injury while the visitors may have to reshape their back four with Yun Suk-Young a candidate to start at left-back with Clint Hill moving into the middle.
STAT ATTACK
Boro have only picked up one win in their last ten, scoring only two goals in that time as they looked to sure up a leaking defence left by previous boss Tony Mowbray.
At home they are a tough side to master, losing only once in their last 17 home fixtures. Rangers bucked the trend of four successive defeats without reply in their resounding 3-0 win at the Riverside in 2011.
Rangers have only won once in their last five away trips, with a convincing win over Birmingham City being masked by four defeats on the road in that run.
ONE TO WATCH
Danny Graham has been outlined by Danielqpr as the One to Watch ahead of the trip to the Riverside Stadium.
The Boro man has come full circle since his original stint at the Riverside. He moved on to Watford, where his fine form alerted the interest of Premier League clubs despite the Hornets’ relatively mediocre campaigns.
Swansea won the race for his signature and the forward played a useful role as Brendan Rodgers’ side secured safety with ease before Michael Laudrup’s side secured the League Cup and European football.
Graham secured a move back to the North East with Sunderland, but failed to replicate his form and was loaned out to Hull City. Middlesbrough eventually came back in for his services and despite a large dip in form he found the net twice in a recent home win against Ipswich.
PREDICTION
This will be a keenly contested affair with both sides looking to build some positive form. Boro are proving very difficult to beat and in the eyes of the bookies are favourites for this particular clash.
After an indifferent and inconsistent run of form Rangers need a confidence boosting win, but in my estimation will probably have to settle for a point against a dogged Karanca side.
Prediction: 1-1 Draw
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