Team News
David Murphy is set to return but Jonathan Spector will be out for several weeks with a thigh problem. Stephen Carr is still out so Peter Ramage will have to continue at right back. Jordon Mutch is suspended.
Kevin Thomson should be available but defender Rhys Williams is a big doubt. Barry Robson is suspended after his red card against Leeds
Reverse Fixture
Blues took the lead at the Riverside in August through an Adam Rooney penalty but three second half goals gave Boro a 3-1 win.
Recent Form
Since Blues’ unbeaten run ended against Forest they have failed to win in three matches. At home they have won only two of their last six.
Middlesbrough sit fourth with four wins in their last six matches. This season they have had more wins away from home scoring five more goals.
Outlook
Something big always happens on the third weekend in March. In 2008 Blues went to fellow strugglers Reading, went behind early, equalised and then conceded another against the run of play. We were relegated by a point that year. In 2009 a Blues team that were struggling to win away went to Doncaster and won 2-0 with a good performance. They then won two of the next three away games to secure promotion. In 2011 this weekend saw us lose to a late goal at Wigan. That goal proved to be crucial in our relegation and their survival.
So this time it’s fellow playoff hopefuls Middlesbrough at home in another very important match. It’s looking very much like there will be three places for seven sides to fight over. Those sides are separated by only six points so matches between can be decisive. We are currently eighth but a victory tomorrow could see us move up to fourth. The following week we are at home to Cardiff which is another six pointer. This is a crucial period of the season and we really need to rediscover our form if we aren’t going to fade out to a mid table finish
If we are to win we need to sort the defence out so hopefully David Murphy will be back. The back four was terribly unbalanced against Leicester which showed when two simple balls over the top led to their second and third goals. Curtis Davies should never be moved out of the centre again. Murphy will also help Andros Townsend out on the left who is looking dangerous but often gets double teamed. A greater threat from the left reduces our reliance on Chris Burke although there is little point in getting crosses in without people getting in the box. The strikers need support from midfield for this but Fahey and N’Daw tend to sit deep. With Mutch suspended the only attacking midfield option is Wade Elliot who has been playing well recently. Upfront I was less impressed with Huseklepp against Coventry than I had been before so maybe it’s best to stick with King and Zigic.
While a draw or defeat would not mean that our promotion chances are over it would be quite a knock as we desperately need to get momentum back. After finally getting a prediction right last week I’m going to remain cautious but optimistic.
Blues 2 Boro 1
C’mon you Blue Boys
It is a Hughton tactic for the centre midfielders to sit deep. That is why Mutch, Gomis, N’Daw, Fahey have only 2 goals between them all season – both Fahey shots from the edge of the area.
In playing 2 wide attacking wingers, the centre have to be more defensive minded.