Middlesbrough versus Preston North End Match Preview
Coca-Cola Championship Tuesday 23rd March 2010 KO 20:00
Despite a spirited performance from Darren Ferguson's side at the weekend, North End failed to pick up any points at the Hawthorns meaning the Lilywhites' unbeaten run of five games came to an abrupt end.
The business end of the season is now upon us, though, meaning that, given the nature of the Championship, most teams still have a lot to play for at both ends of the table.
That being, Tuesday's game see's two sides go head-to-head who still have playoff ambitions, albeit farfetched ones. Boro are two points ahead of North End in 11th place but an away win for Darren Ferguson's side would see them leap frog their Teeside counterparts.
Form
Middlesbrough Home Form: DWWWDD
Preston North End Away Form: WLLLDL
Overall
Middlesbrough: LWLDDD
Preston North End: WDDWDL
North End have never visited the Riverside Stadium before meaning themost recent meetings between these two sides have both been at Deepdale.
Back in October, the two sides fought out a draw after Billy Jones rescued a point for North End late on after coming from behind twice. Gary O'Neill put the visitors ahead just before half-time with a free-kick that somehow managed to squeeze its way through Andrew Lonergan. Paul Parry equalised from an acute angle just after the hour mark only to see Adam Johnson put Boro back in front after the Sunderland-born man capitalised on a Neil Collins error just six minutes later
The only other previous meeting in recent times came in the FA Cup in 2006 when a Steve McClaren led Middlesbrough surpassed North End in a 2-0 win. Yakubu bagged both goals for the Teesiders.
Team News
After missing the defeat to West Brom at the weekend, Paul Coutts and Billy Jones are set to make a return for the trip to the North East. Coutts was complaining of a tight hamstring whilst Jones was taken ill at the team's hotel.
For Boro, as well as long term absentees such as Matthew Bates (cruciate ligaments) and Seb Hines (medial knee ligaments), Gordon Strachan will have to do without striker Jeremie Aliadiere also who is suffering from a broken toe. Midfielder Willo Flood is another who has ligament damage and should see him out for the majority of the remaining games.
Full back Juston Hoyte (knee) will face a late fitness test whilst Stephen McManus should return after recovering from an illness which saw him miss the Reading game.