Preview: Middlesbrough vs. Brentford

Middlesbrough will be looking for their third win in a row when they host Championship newcomers Brentford this weekend.

Aitor Karanka's side made it back-to-back wins when they secured a 1-0 victory over Cardiff City in their midweek trip to South Wales, leaving them ninth in the table heading into this weekend.

However, the manager has confirmed that they will be without Damia Abella for the next six months after the defender suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament during Tuesday's match.

Meanwhile, Brentford will be hoping to bounce back from just their second defeat of the season after they were beaten 3-0 by Norwich City earlier this week.

Despite the loss, the Bees remain in the top half of the table in 11th, just two points off the playoff places.

The team are not expected to have any new injuries for Saturday's match, but will continue to be without Scott Hogan, who is a long-term absentee with a knee injury.

This will be the first time that these two sides have played since 2003, when Middlesbrough knocked Brentford out of the League Cup with a 4-1 win.

Recent form

Middlesbrough: LWLLWW

Brentford: LWDWWL

Possible starting lineups

Middlesbrough: Konstantopoulos, Ayala, Omeruo, Nsue Lopez, Friend, Adomah, Clayton, Reach, Leadbitter, Tomlin, Martinez

Brentford: Button, Tarkowski, Bidwell, McCormack, Dean, Judge, Douglas, Dallas, Odubajo, Pritchard, Proschwitz.

Sports Mole says: 2-0