Middlesbrough vs Hull Preview
Today Middlesbrough take on Hull City at The Riverside Stadium and will be looking to return to winning ways after a defeat against Cardiff City at the weekend.
After a defeat against Cardiff at the weekend Middlesbrough now find themselves five points off the final play-off position and know only a win will do today, it won’t be easy though for Tony Pulis side.
Nigel Adkins Hull side are currently in a relegation battle and find themselves just one point above the drop zone and will be looking to make it back to back wins in the league after they beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 last time out.
If Hull do manage to beat Middlesbrough today it will be the first time since April 2017 that they’ve recorded back to back league wins.
In terms of injury news Middlesbrough have no fresh concerns but will still be without Brazilian full-back Fabio da Silva.
The Brazilian defender has missed the last few weeks through injury but is close to a return and is now reportedly happy to stay at the club and battle for his place after a transfer away from club failed to materialise during the January transfer window.
Hull however, will be without midfielder Sebastian Larsson as the ex Sunderland fans favourite will miss the game through suspension.
The Tigers will still be without Markus Henriksen (ankle), Ondrej Mazuch (hamstring), Moses Odubajo and James Weir (both knee) who will all miss the game through injury.
One man who will be hoping to impress tonight is winger Jack Harrison.
The ex-Manchester United youth academy product made his debut for Middlesbrough at the weekend and he will be hoping he did enough to impress Pulis at the weekend and be handed a start tonight.
Today’s game will be a tough test for Boro as they face a Hull side fighting for their lives at the bottom table and with Middlesbrough looking poor at home in recent weeks Hull will fancy their chances.
However, I think Middlesbrough will just edge this game in what will be a poor game of football.
Middlesbrough 1-0 Hull City.
Credit to The Gazette and NYCFC for the imagery used in this article.