Ninth-placed Middlesbrough host Sheffield United, currently fourth, on Wednesday evening.
Both teams head into midweek after suffering 2-0 defeats last weekend. Boro were defeated at the Riverside Stadium by Bristol City, whilst the Blades were soundly beaten at Elland Road by Leeds United.
This game also marks Chris Wilder’s return to his former club where he managed a total of 45 games for Middlesbrough, registering 1.49 points per game.
Transfer business
Boro are usually ones to make eye-catching moves in the transfer window, and while they had a decent summer window, it can certainly be described as less glamorous than previous ones.
The loan signing of Ben Doak, from Liverpool, is a good pickup and the teenager is already making an impact for Michael Carrick’s side. I do like the permanent signing of Micah Hamilton, however, he is definitely one for the future rather than the now. Luke Ayling is a good free transfer, adding plenty of experience and versatility at this level, and one who knows the club having spent time last season on loan in the North East.
Tommy Conway is the best signing out of the bunch though, the Scotsman possesses bags of pace and movement, and he is clinical when given opportunities; he already has two Championship goals in six appearances for his new club.
Team news
There were worries when Gustavo Hamer hobbled off against Leeds United, but Chris Wilder has now confirmed that the Dutch midfielder trained over the weekend and will be fit for Wednesday night’s trip to Middlesbrough.
Vinicius Souza will miss the midweek game after picking up his fifth yellow card of the campaign at Elland Road. Meanwhile, Jack Robinson and Tom Davies are still working their way back to fitness.
More updates to follow.
Middlesbrough’s star player for this game
As touched on previously, despite being just 18 years of age, Ben Doak has shown his potential through the early few weeks of his Boro loan spell. The Liverpool youth product already has one goal in six appearances, but he’s also missed three big chances. To add, he is averaging almost two key passes per game.
Doak has the ability to play in-field as a number ten, as well as a wide man hugging the touchline. I can’t help but feel that Doak’s best opportunities to impact the game would be to play in the half-space down the right because he has the agility and ball control to spin around men on the ball, which is very dangerous especially 30 yards from United’s goal where he can also find an intricate pass with his excellent vision.
Doak’s intelligent movement could open up space in the defensive line for the speedy Emmanuel Latte Lath to ghost into, or Tommy Conway.
Sheffield United’s star player for this game
My pick for this game is purely based on whether or not there will be a positional change. With Gustavo Hamer being declared fit for Wednesday evening, and given Vinicius Souza is suspended, I think we may see Hamer move back into central midfield at the side of Oliver Arblaster in a 4-2-3-1.
One reason why I think Wilder may make a change is to basically get more speed on the pitch; perhaps we see Jesurun Rak-Sakyi on the left and Andre Brooks on the right, with Rhian Brewster in the ten supporting Kieffer Moore.
If Hamer is moved back to a more central position then he could be in a favourable matchup given Boro’s primary formation is 4-2-3-1, in other words it will be man for man across the board in our attacking situations. And I’d back the Dutchman to get the best of everyone in this league in that case, especially if he’s coming up against the likes of Hayden Hackney and Micah Hamilton.
My view
Despite only scoring ten goals in the Championship, Middlesbrough have created 25 big chances, which is the third-highest in the league, but they’ve missed 20 of them. Additionally, they’re averaging the highest non-penalty expected goals per game out of anyone in the league (1.68). Boro have also registered over 30 touches in the opposition box per game, which is the highest in the second tier.
All the statistics suggest they are one of the best attacking teams in the Championship, but they just haven’t got the goals to prove it thus far. And while they are performing great in most attacking metrics, they are the second-worst team at converting chances (6%).
The Blades must not be fooled by the wastefulness of Michael Carrick’s side because they are a handful in attack, and at some point you have to think they will start getting the goals to prove it.
It will be interesting to see how Sheffield United respond at the back after conceding for the first time in six games, at Leeds, as well as suffering their first defeat of the league campaign.
My prediction
Middlesbrough should be second in the league according to expected points based on performances, whilst United should be sat in seventh, and that should come as no shock if you’ve seen both teams play. The Blades have been gritting out a lot of their wins, on the other hand, Boro have done everything but score.
I think this game will be a firefight in all honesty, and one that will hinge on the quality of the defences, and the Blades have a better defence than the home side. Therefore, I’m predicting Sheffield United to win by a score line of either 2-1 or 3-2.
