Aiming to keep the second-tier chasing pack at arm's length, Ipswich Town will make the long trip to the Riverside Stadium on Saturday afternoon, where Middlesbrough await for an exciting-looking Championship clash.
Boro came out on the losing side of a five-goal thriller at top-two hopefuls Leeds United last time out, while the Tractor Boys displayed their promotional credentials once again with a home success over Coventry City.
Match preview
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Following the four-goal demolition of Ryan Lowe's Preston North End at the Riverside to round off November, Michael Carrick took his Middlesbrough side to Elland Road last weekend, where a third-minute strike from forward Emmanuel Latte Lath handed the visitors a surprise lead.
A frenetic opening to proceedings in Yorkshire saw Daniel Farke's Whites spark into life not long after the Ivorian's opener, with goals from Daniel James, Crysencio Summerville and former Swansea City man Joel Piroe condemning Boro to only their third defeat in their last 13 second-tier contests.
Summer arrival Lath managed to grab his second of the afternoon in the closing stages of the first period, and although that goal proved to be merely a consolation in the context of the match, the 24-year-old's overall performance at Elland Road leaves him firmly ahead of Josh Coburn in Middlesbrough's offensive pecking order.
Despite a raft of injuries that have limited options over recent weeks, Carrick's men are continuing their steady ascent towards the playoff positions in the Championship, with the North-East club currently 12th in the second-tier table, three points behind Liam Rosenior's Hull City in sixth.
Middlesbrough have been mightily impressive in their last two home matches, beating league leaders Leicester City 1-0 to hand Enzo Maresca's men only their third loss of the campaign, before smashing Preston in a contest in which goalkeeper Seny Dieng did not have a save to make.
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Any queries over Ipswich Town's automatic-promotion ambitions following a limp 2-0 loss at Carlos Corberan's West Bromwich Albion were convincingly answered by the Tractor Boys over the past 10 days, with the newly-promoted side winning back-to-back home matches against Millwall and Coventry.
Kieran McKenna's men have been heavily praised for their effectiveness as a unit since entering the Championship in August, but it was a moment of individual brilliance from Wes Burns which put the East Anglians two goals ahead against the Sky Blues last time out, with the Welshman curling a trivela past the helpless Bradley Collins.
The Tractor Boys have hit the ground running during their first campaign back at this level after a four-year absence, highlighted by the fact that Saturday's hosts trail only recently-relegated Leicester in the Championship standings heading into the festive period, with Town possessing a seven-point advantage over third-placed Leeds.
Making the net ripple on 41 occasions in their opening 19 league matches, Ipswich deservedly hold the title as the division's most potent attack, although defensive efforts from centre-back pairing Luke Woolfenden and Cameron Burgess have been equally admirable, with McKenna's side conceding just eight goals in nine away matches so far.
With Wales international Nathan Broadhead drifting into a central-attacking role, full-back Leif Davis has been afforded the freedom of the left flank this season and has taken full advantage, as the 23-year-old currently leads the Championship's playmaker charts with nine assists.
Team News
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Middlesbrough will be without the services of right-back Anfernee Dijksteel on the weekend after he received his marching orders in the defeat at Elland Road, meaning Rav van den Berg, Hayden Coulson or Jonathan Howson could feature on the right side of the hosts' backline.
Carrick will be forced to field a new right flank after Isaiah Jones picked up his fifth yellow card of the season last time out, with Australia international Samuel Silvera pushing for a start.
Better news for Boro arrives in the form of Sam Greenwood, who will return to the matchday squad after being ineligible to face his parent club Leeds last Saturday.
Paddy McNair was forced off during the first half in Yorkshire due to back spasms, with Matthew Clarke expected to earn a rare start should the Northern Ireland international be unable to feature.
Ipswich also have a pair of suspensions for this weekend's clash at the Riverside, with right-back Brandon Williams and midfielder Massimo Luongo collecting their fifth cautions of the term during the success over Coventry.
Williams's absence almost guarantees that Harry Clarke will retain his spot in the visitors' backline, while fellow defender Janoi Donacien is a doubt to make the squad following a leg injury.
Jack Taylor is set to be promoted into the starting XI to play alongside Sam Morsy, but Omari Hutchinson is preparing for another afternoon as a substitute due to the exceptional form of Burns and Broadhead.
Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Dieng; Van den Berg, Clarke, McNair, Bangura; Howson, Barlaser; Rogers, Crooks, Silvera; Lath
Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:
Hladky; Clarke, Woolfenden, Burgess, Davis; Morsy, Taylor, Burns, Chaplin, Broadhead; Hirst
We say: Middlesbrough 2-2 Ipswich Town
With both sides possessing plenty of attacking quality, we are expecting an entertaining and high-scoring encounter between Boro and Ipswich on Saturday.
The Tractor Boys have conceded two goals in each of their last three away outings, but we believe that their offensive prowess will be enough to earn them a point on Teesside.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Carter White
