Championship | Gameweek 34

Feb 21, 2025 at 7.45pm UK

Robins High Performance Centre

Bristol City vs Middlesbrough

Match preview

Bristol City sit two points outside the play-off places, having won 11, drawn 13 and lost nine of their 33 Championship games this season.

The Robins have proved to be a tough side to beat of late, winning two, drawing three and losing just one of their last six games.

Their only defeat in that time came at Swansea City earlier this month before they got back on track with a 2-0 home win over Stoke City.

Liam Manning's side looked set for another win in last Saturday's Severnside derby against Cardiff City, but Jason Knight's opener was cancelled out by Yousef Saleh's 90th-minute equaliser to extend their away winless run to nine league games.

After struggling on the road, the Robins will be relishing the prospect of returning to familiar surroundings at Ashton Gate, where they have won six of their last eight games.

They will also take confidence from the fact that they have won each of their last three meetings with Middlesbrough, including a 2-0 victory at the Riverside in October.

Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick has seen his position come under scrutiny after overseeing just two wins in 11 Championship games (D4, L5).

Indeed, Boro have lost five of their last six league games, including defeats in their last four against Preston North End, Sunderland, Sheffield United and Watford.

Last Saturday, Moussa Sissoko scored the decisive goal in a 1-0 win over Watford that condemned Middlesbrough to consecutive home defeats and left them with just one win in their last six league games at the Riverside.

Their hopes of improving their fortunes on the road may be dampened by the fact that they have lost each of their last three away games since beating Hull City on New Year's Day.

Boro will at least fancy their chances of troubling the goalkeepers, having scored 26 goals on their 15 Championship road trips, making them the top scorers away from home in the division.

Middlesbrough will be hoping their firepower can help them end a six-game winless streak against Bristol City, dating back to a 2-1 victory in August 2021.

Recent Performance

Bristol City Championship form:DWDLWD

Middlesbrough Championship form:LWLLLL

Team News

Bristol City defender Ross McCrorie will be sidelined for around six weeks after suffering a hamstring injury at the weekend.

Cam Pring is in contention to return to the squad for the first time since New Year's Day, but it remains to be seen whether he will be ready to play after being sidelined with a hamstring problem.

Yu Hirakawa could be rewarded with a start after coming off the bench to provide the assist for Knight's goal in Saturday's draw with Cardiff.

The visitors will be without Sol Brynn, Seny Dieng, Darragh Lenihan, Tommy Smith, Riley McGree, Jonny Howson and Ben Doak.

Full-back Anfernee Dijksteel is pushing for a starting berth after returning from injury to play over half an hour against Watford.

Carrick could also make further changes to his side, with Finn Azaz, Delano Burgzorg and Samuel Iling Junior all in contention to start against the Robins.

Possible starting lineup

Bristol City possible starting lineup:

O'Leary; Vyner, Dickie, Roberts; Tanner, Bird, Knight, Sykes; Hirakawa, Twine, Armstrong

Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:

Travers; Dijksteel, Van den Berg, Edmundson, Neto; Hackney, Morris; Iling Junior, Azaz, Burgzorg; Iheanacho