After taking a more than useful point against two in-form opponents, the Rams will be hoping they can turn one into three as they travel to the Riverside Stadium.
Current Form - Last 5 Matches:
Boro - 3rd: D, D, D, D, L
Rams - 4th: W, D, L. D, D
Team News:
Middlesbrough:
When it comes to players missing from their squad, Boro are not in much better shape than the Rams currently.
Barry Robson is not available due to suspension after receiving his 5th yellow card during the mid-week defeat to Forest.
Their defence is looking shaky with both Rhys Williams and Matthew Bates unlikely to return from injury, along with keeper Carl Ikeme and midfielder Kevin Thomson.
Derby:
With the news that star signing Nathan Tyson has hit yet another injury hurdle, his return is pushed back further still. His groin injury will keep him sidelined till at least the next international break.
Steven Davies is out till the New Year after an operation on his skull and John Brayford is six weeks away with a muscle tear.
Kevin Kilbane had a run in the reserves which may see him feature as a stand-in right back should Russell Anderson lose his spot following Nigel being displeased with some of his decision-making against Reading.
Callum Ball - the boy who can’t stop scoring – put another one in for the Rams reserves during the week after a substitute appearance for the first team and must be close to being handed a start. Teenage England international Mason Bennett may find himself on the bench after missing the Reading trip due to it being a school night (true!!)
DanJ’s Match Preview:
The Rams looked unlikely to achieve much for nearly an hour against Reading and then burst into life with a late attacking flourish.
Unfortunately that flourish also coincided with a defensive lapse and in the end will have been disappointed they did not go on to win after hitting the lead twice.
They are unlikely to make any changes for the trip to Boro but with Kevin Kilbane close to full fitness, he may find himself drafted into the team for Russell Anderson, who had a tough night out at Reading.
Cywka and Robinson are likely to continue up front in attack after slotting in a goal each which should be enough for them to continue to develop their partnership. Personally I am glad to see Tomasz in the starting line-up, as he works extremely hard and has great creative spark as well as being a quality finisher.
Their pace and attacking thrust could give an undermanned Boro defence a torrid time and we may see quite a few goals as a result - but I doubt many will come from the hosts.
In the last 6 games Middlesbrough have only scored 2 goals and managed 1 win. After a cracking start to the season (and despite still being 3rd), their results must be a worry for manager Tony Mowbray. The defeat to lowly Forest must have sounded the alarm bells if they weren’t already ringing.
The Rams may be visiting at the right time - with two good performances under their belt – they will be looking to take advantage of Boro’s recent decline.
I think Derby may very well manage to do so and post another away win to ensure they keep pace at the top of the league.
Dan J’s Score Prediction:
Both teams are undermanned but the Rams look to have the better reinforcements in place to win the day. Plus whatever Forest can do…
Boro 0 - Derby 2