Middlesbrough preview

Lose and we could be as many as six points off second place and NINE points off Southampton at the summit. So it goes without saying, we simply must win. Should Reading lose on the other hand, a win would lift us back up into the top 2 with that game in hand at Peterborough next Tuesday yet to play.

We aren't without our injury problems, though, with Diop, Demel, Vaz Te and Faubert unavailable and Tomkins a major doubt after limping off at half time at Elland Road on Saturday. We have really struggled without Diop holding and even though he plays the role well, Tomkins just isn't as solid and much more suited to his natural centre back role and although he has his critics, we've missed a natural winger on the right since Faubert has been unavailable.

Boro's form has been indifferent lately with 3 wins and 3 defeats in their last 6, 2 of those defeats being at home to Leeds and Reading.

Our current form somewhat flatters us as we are currently unbeaten in 8 but we've drawn our last 3 games in a row and our last 4 home games. I think in the end a point at Elland Road wasn't a bad result as it's arguably the hardest place to go in the league but the draws at home to Watford, Doncaster and Palace were disappointing to say the least. And I hate to sound like a broken record but if we don't win tonight and both Saints and Reading do, I think we're all but out of the race for automatic promotion unless either one of them start to stumble majorly, as we have.

Possible starting 11? Well we can expect a cautious 4-5-1 line up which would surely have a negative affect as we all want to see free flowing attacking football but 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 would obviously please the fans. With Maynard failing to get his name on the score sheet recently I'd love to see Baldock start alongside Cole, but I've been saying that all season and it rarely happens. My first choice formation would be:

Green
J O'B Faye Collins Linda
Collison Noble Nolan(c) Taylor
Cole Baldock
Subs: Henderson, Potts, Lansbury Morrison, Maynard.

Let's get behind the team and do our part in taking the three points!

COME ON YOU IRONS!