Middlesbrough v Birmingham Preview

Middlesbrough have a better squad than the one which reached the play-off final last year according to manager Aitor Karanka.

After 19 games Boro are six points better off than at this stage last season and are second in the table, two points behind leaders Brighton.

Today they face Birmingham at the Riverside, with the Blues sitting eighth in the table. Karanka was complementary about his opposite number Gary Rowett, saying the 41-year-old is “a good young manager who has improved the team a lot”

The Boro boss also reiterated that he had spoken to striker Patrick Bamford, who scored 17 league goals for the Teessiders last season, and that “the door was open for him to return” in January.

Even so Karanka preferred to concentrate on the important games ahead of him in December which sees Boro take on four of the top eight teams.

Team News

Boro picked up no injuries in last week despite playing two games in the space of three days (Against Everton and Ipswich). Tomas Kalas returned to the bench after a knee injury, while defender Rhys Williams is also close to a return after nearly a year on the side-lines; however this weekend’s game will probably come too soon.

Birmingham are expected to be without top scorer Clayton Donaldson for the fourth game running and the Blues striker is expected to be out until Christmas with a groin injury. In his absence Danish striker Nicolai Brock-Madsen has led the line, though the 22-year-old is still yet to find the net after signing for Birmingham in the summer.

The visitors will also be without David Cotterill (knee), Paul Robinson (thigh) and Koby Arthur (knee), though striker James Vaughan is available after signing on loan from Huddersfield at the end of November.

Facts and Stats

Birmingham haven’t beaten Boro in their last four meetings, last season Boro won 2-0 at the Riverside and the teams drew 1-1 at St Andrews.

The Blues have lost nine out of their last 10 games at the Riverside; the only exception was in 2013 when Nikola Zigic scored the only goal of the game.

Birmingham have used just 20 players in the Championship this season, the fewest of any team. (BBC Sport)

Key Players

Boro’s Key

Christian Stuani

Boro's Christian Stuani
(Picture from i3.gazettelive.co.uk)

Stuani’s return from injury has given Boro a huge boost ahead of a packed Christmas fixture list. Against Ipswich the Uruguayan made his first league start for over a month, due to injury, and scored the opening goal of the game. Despite missing a chunk of the season Stuani remains Boro top scorer with 8 goals in all competitions. He usually starts on the right hand side and has the ability to run at defenders with the ball. Due to his attacking instincts Stuani often drifts in field and adds an extra threat in the box, meaning defenders often struggle to track him.

One To Watch

Demarai Gray

Birmingham's Demarai Gray
(Picture from i1.birminghammail.co.uk)

Gray has become a regular for Birmingham in the past 12 months despite being just 19-years-old. Like the former Blues winger Nathan Redmond, Gray is a product of the Birmingham youth academy and has already made 67 appearances for his home town club. Gray’s pace and dribbling abilities will be a threat on the counter attack which will suit the Blues away from home. Gray is often deployed on the wing so will have to do be aware of his defensive duties at the Riverside, where Boro have lost just once this campaign.

Form

Middlesbrough

Ipswich 0-2 W

Everton 0-2 L (Capital One Cup)

Huddersfield 0-2 W

QPR 1-0 W

Hull 3-0 L

Birmingham

Huddersfield 0-2 L

Brighton 2-1 L

Charlton 0-1 L

Fulham 2-5 W

Blackburn 0-0 D

Prediction

Middlesbrough 2 Birmingham 1

Birmingham have struggled for goals in recent weeks after the injury to top scorer Clayton Donaldson. The Blues have lost their last three games while Boro are in good form after winning away at Ipswich last weekend. However Gary Rowett has proved that he is a good, up and coming manager who will probably arrive with an astute game plan. Even so as the home team I expect Boro to edge a tight encounter.