Middlesbrough will host a Stoke City side that are looking for a third win on the bounce at the Riverside Stadium.
A spectacle would be what described the light show rather than The Potters performance against Leeds on Wednesday night.
Nevertheless, Stoke came away with the all important three points and will face a Middlesbrough side who like The Potters are looking to extend their winning streak.
Here’s everything you need to know about The Potters upcoming game against Boro…
Team News
Injuries look to finally be a thing of the past for The Potters with many players being nursed back from injury.
Perhaps the most important being Enda Stevens who came off the bench against Leeds. This gives The Potters a recognised left back, something which the side has been lacking for too long.
However, Stoke will have to start looking for a new first team goalkeeper after Mark Travers was recalled by his parent club Bournemouth.
Predicted starting XI against Middlesbrough:
(GK) Bonham, Stevens, Rose, McNally, Hoever, Pearson, Burger, Johnson, Leris, Wesley, Vidigal
The Manager
Michael Carrick has done an excellent job at Middlesbrough so far. Finishing 4th in the league table last year and hoping to improve on that this season. Carrick will be determined to get a win this Saturday to mount a Boro play off push.
Carrick’s teams look for width by pushing certain defenders high up the pitch to form a temporary 3-2-5 which helps stretch the opposition defence to the maximum. This constant changing of pattern makes it difficult for the opposition to press due them not knowing which variant Boro will play. It could be a long ball towards the forwards or constant pressure.
Attacking threat can comes from either the wingers cutting inside or playing through the centre to the strikers.
When Carrick’s teams are defending, they adopt a medium block with a high press.
Source: Taticof.com
Head-to-Head
Neither side could claim to have been the best last season with both sides drawing including one very entertaining 1-1 draw at the Riverside in March.
However, overall Middlesbrough can claim to be the most successful side, winning 43, drawing 25 and losing 36.
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