Rotherham United will look to continue their impressive start to the Championship season on Saturday, when they travel to the Riverside Stadium to take on Middlesbrough.
Following a defeat to Cardiff City, the hosts sit 21st in the table with just nine points from their nine games, with their newly-promoted visitors four points better off having played a game fewer.
Match preview
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Middlesbrough have experienced a somewhat unexpectedly slow start to the Championship campaign in their first full season under the management of Chris Wilder, as they sat on just three points without a single win from their opening five outings.
They were then able to put a first victory on the board at the sixth time of asking at home to Swansea City, with Riley McGree and Matt Crooks hitting first-half goals in an eventual 2-1 triumph at the Riverside Stadium but did not manage to build on that with another three-point haul as a 2-1 defeat away at Watford followed.
Boro returned to winning ways at home to rivals Sunderland, as McGree hit the only goal of the game in the 25th minute, before last weekend's fixtures were postponed due to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, meaning they had to wait until Tuesday's contest with Cardiff City to try and add another notch to their wins column.
Coming in on the back of consecutive home victories, Wilder's men experienced a nightmare start as they trailed 3-0 at half time, with Callum O'Dowda, Mark Harris and Perry Ng all getting on the scoresheet for the visitors, and while Duncan Watmore and Rodrigo Muniz gave them a chance of coming back with quickfire goals in the 76th and 77th minutes respectively, Boro were unable to find a leveller and found themselves condemned to a fourth league defeat of the term.
Now only leading 22nd-placed Swansea City on goal difference and with just two sides on fewer than their nine points, with the defence a particular concern considering only Hull City have conceded more than the 15 goals Boro have shipped so far, the Riverside outfit will be desperate to turn their form around and pick up another home win on Saturday to begin climbing the division.
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They face a tough test, though, as Rotherham United arrive with confidence having made a positive start after winning promotion back to the second tier last term.
Paul Warne's men boasted nine points from five outings after an unbeaten start, but they were eventually defeated away at Sunderland, with Ross Stewart hitting a brace and Jack Clarke wrapping up a rampant display and a 3-0 home victory.
The Millers have quickly been able to bounce back, though, playing out a commendable 1-1 draw at home to Watford and triumphing over Blackpool on Wednesday after Saturday's trip to Sheffield United was postponed.
They led 1-0 going into the final 10 minutes thanks to Chiedozie Ogbene's first-half goal, and the game would be put out of sight as Wes Harding and Georgie Kelly added their names to the scoresheet late on.
Having moved up to ninth spot with 13 points, while holding a game in hand on most sides around them, Rotherham will look to continue their bright start and further establish themselves in the top half with what would be a statement away win at the weekend.
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Team News
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Middlesbrough have several enforced absences down the spine of the team, with goalkeeper Zack Steffen ruled out alongside centre-back Darragh Lenihan and forward Chuba Akpom due to injuries.
Without Lenihan, and following a 3-2 defeat, Wilder may opt to make changes to his defence, with Anfernee Dijksteel likely to come in alongside two of Dael Fry, Paddy McNair and Matt Clarke, while Johnny Howson and Alex Mowatt should operate in the engine room.
Ahead of them, Riley McGree and Matt Crooks will likely provide attacking support from midfield, with Fulham loanee Rodrigo Muniz bound to lead the line having already found the net twice in three league starts.
Paul Warne has little reason to make alterations to his Rotherham team after their resounding win in midweek, with Lee Peltier, Shane Ferguson and Tom Eaves remaining out of contention, although he is forced into one change as centre-back Grant Hall will not be eligible to play against his parent club.
Georgie Kelly will hope that his goal off the bench is enough to earn him a starting berth, but Conor Washington is more likely to again partner up with danger man Chiedozie Ogbene, who hit his fourth league goal of the season against Blackpool.
Veteran defender and captain Richard Wood also boasts four Championship goals this term, and he will continue to play at the heart of the back three, with Wes Harding bound to keep his place while Cameron Humphreys should come back in place of Hall.
Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Roberts; Dijksteel, McNair, Clarke; Jones, Mowatt, Howson, Crooks, Giles; McGree; Muniz
Rotherham United possible starting lineup:
Johansson; Hall, Wood, Harding; Norton-Cuffy, Wiles, Barlaser, Rathbone, Bramall; Washington, Ogbene
We say: Middlesbrough 2-1 Rotherham United
Rotherham have certainly been the more impressive of the two teams this season, but Saturday still presents a tough challenge and we lean towards a home win.
Chris Wilder has a strong squad at the Riverside Stadium who are bound to come good sooner rather than later, and we see them having too much for a Millers side who may be slightly over-performing thus far, particularly on home turf.
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Top tip
Sam Varley
