- Sheffield Wednesday have lost only one of their last seven matches
- Middlesbrough have won only one of their last four fixtures
- Recommended bet: Sheffield Wednesday or draw double chance

Sheffield Wednesday spent the majority of last season battling against the drop but they head to Middlesbrough with the Championship play-offs in their sights.

The Owls climbed to ninth place after Saturday's 2-0 victory at home to Stoke and are only three points adrift of sixth-placed Boro, who have been struggling for consistency.

Boro had hoped to contest for automatic promotion but they are 10 points behind second-placed Leeds and under pressure to string some wins together.

Head coach Michael Carrick is remaining outwardly calm but he must have been frustrated after Saturday's disappointing 3-3 draw at basement boys Plymouth.

Team news

Carrick has confirmed that none of Middlesbrough's injured contingent are ready to return. A busy treatment room includes Aidan Morris, Luke Ayling (both knee), Seny Dieng (knock) and Alex Bangura (Achilles).

Lukas Engel has returned to training and is pushing for a place in the squad.

Wednesday's Di'Shon Bernard serves a one-match suspension after his red card in Saturday's 2-0 victory at home to Stoke and Akin Famewo (muscle strain) remains unavailable.

Olaf Kobacki has returned to training and is pushing for a place in the squad.

The stats

Middlesbrough have kept only one clean sheet in their last 11 matches and seven of Boro's last 11 games have generated at least four goals.

Sheffield Wednesday have won four of their last six fixtures.

Seven of the Owls' last nine games have featured less than three goals.

Prediction

Sheffield Wednesday are 16 points and 14 positions better off than they were at the same stage of last season and they can stay in touch with the play-off race by avoiding defeat on Teesside.

Owls' manager Danny Rohl has attracted the attention of rival clubs after excelling in his first managerial job.

When he was appointed in October 2023, he inherited a team rooted to the foot of the table with three points from 11 games.

The 35-year-old steered Wednesday to second tier safety and now he has their fans dreaming of promotion to the Premier League.

Top flight football has been the aim for Middlesbrough for several seasons but they are in danger of failing to meet expectations.

Boro are clinging onto a place in the play-offs but they have already lost seven games and their goals-conceded tally (28) is the highest among the top seven.

A lack of consistency has long been an issue for the north east side, who look poor value odds-on favourites.

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