Automatic promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough will look to keep the pressure on the top two in the Championship when they welcome Charlton Athletic to the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.

Aitor Karanka's side are hitting form at exactly the right time and remain just a point off both Bournemouth and Derby County following a run of three consecutive Championship victories.

That winning run stretches to four in all competitions when you include the shock 2-0 win at Manchester City in the FA Cup, with their unbeaten streak now stretching to eight matches.

Indeed, only fellow high-flyers Ipswich Town have beaten Boro in their last 18 outings, but perhaps the most impressive aspect of their recent form has been their defensive record - they have conceded just one goal and kept seven clean sheets in their last eight matches.

They will be confident of extending that streak against a Charlton side who have the second-worst attacking record in the division, despite Karanka being unhappy with his side's performance in the victory over fifth-placed Brentford last weekend.

Boro have not lost a home match since August and have won their last four, while only Ipswich have amassed more Championship points in front of their own fans than Karanka's side so far this season.

Centre-back Daniel Ayala is available once again after suspension but could be forced to settle for a place on the bench alongside Adam Forshaw, who is also unlikely to start.

Long-term absentee Mustapha Carayol has returned to training and may sneak onto the bench, but Karanka is likely to be cautious over him due to his lengthy absence.

While Middlesbrough go from strength to strength, Charlton continue to slide down the table and now find themselves in 18th place, just six points clear of the bottom three.

New manager Guy Luzon is still looking for his first win in charge of the team, who have only scored one goal in their last five league games and have gone 12 matches without tasting victory in all competitions.

Draws continue to be the order of the day for the Addicks, who have now shared the spoils a whopping 15 times from their 28 league outings so far this season.

Luzon would surely be happy with another draw this weekend, but hopes won't be high for a club who have failed to score in their last four away games, picking up just one point from a possible 12 in that time. Indeed, no team has scored fewer than Charlton's 10 away goals in the current campaign.

Their plight has not been helped by top scorer Igor Vetokele going 892 minutes without a goal, last finding the back of the net at the start of November.

He will get another chance to break that duck against a side that has kept a league-high 14 clean sheets this season, but Johnnie Jackson is a doubt, while the match comes too soon for Stephen Henderson.

Middlesbrough:

Form in Championship: WDDWWW
Form in all competitions: WDWWWW

Possible starting lineup: Konstantopoulos; Fredericks, Omeruo, Gibson, Friend; Adomah, Leadbitter, Clayton, Tomlin; Bamford; Vossen

Charlton:

Form in Championship: DLLLDD
Form in all competitions: LLLLDD

Possible starting lineup: Dmitrovic; Solly, Bikey, Ben Haim, Wiggins; Gudmundsson, Buyens, Veljkovic, Cousins; Harriott; Vetokele

Sports Mole says: 2-0

Previews by email