Sky Bet Championship: Middlesbrough v Nottingham Forest preview & tips

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Middlesbrough v Nottingham Forest in the Sky Bet Championship.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event & Football, 7.45pm Monday

Best bet

Nottingham Forest draw no bet
1pt 17-20 general
Back this tip with bet365

Team news

Middlesbrough
George Friend (hip) should be available but Ashley Fletcher is doubtful. Daniel Ayala, Patrick Roberts and Dael Fry are unavailable.

Nottingham Forest
Samba Sow was initially ruled out but reports locally suggest he could yet be in the squad. Tendayi Darikwa is sidelined and Sammy Ameobi and Lewis Grabban need to be assessed.

Match preview

The Riverside plays host to a match which is hugely important at both ends of the Sky Bet Championship and Nottingham Forest can advertise their promotion aspirations at the same time as damaging hosts Middlesbrough's survival hopes.

A four-match winning sequence either side of Christmas looked to have eased any drop fears for Boro, but their last win came on New Year's Day and they have collected only seven points in 2020.

Jonathan Woodgate's side have lost their last three matches, all 1-0, and two of those were against their relegation rivals Luton and Barnsley. The other came against Leeds on Wednesday when Woodgate reverted to a back four and saw an improved performance without anything to show for it on the scoreboard.

That has been Middlesbrough's problem all season. They are the lowest scorers in the division and Britt Assombalonga's goal drought is ten matches, stretching back to early November.

Leading goalscorer Ashley Fletcher is doubtful, loan striker Lukas Nmecha is without a goal this term for Wolfsburg and Boro and Rudy Gestede was reportedly involved in a row with supporters at Barnsley. He was not in the squad against Leeds.

Forest have lost just twice in the league since Christmas and won a difficult match at Cardiff last time out. The Tricky Trees have beaten Leeds and Brentford this year and drawn at West Brom, so they should be capable of a positive result against powder-puff opponents.

Key stat

Middlesbrough are the Championship's lowest scorers with 34 goals.

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