Npower Championship Matchday Thirty-Five: Middlesbrough v Barnsley

Match Preview Team News The imminent arrival of Frank Nouble from West Ham has come too late for tonight’s match at Middlesbrough so the 20 year old’s second debut for Barnsley is likely to come at the weekend. Reds boss Keith Hill could stick with the same side that earned a first draw in 25 matches last time out as Jim O’Brien, David Perkins and Bobby Hassell remain sidelined. 17 year old Paul Digby is in line for a second successive start. Last time out: Luke Steele Jay McEveley Stephen Foster Scott Wiseman Jim McNulty Scott Golbourne Matty Done Korey Smith Michael Tonge Paul Digby Craig Davies Head To Head Last Six Middlesbrough v Barnsley Results: 16/8/11 Barnsley 1-3 Middlesbrough (Championship) 16/4/11 Middlesbrough 1-1 Barnsley (Championship) 28/8/10 Barnsley 2-0 Middlesbrough (Championship) 9/2/10 Middlesbrough 2-1 Barnsley (Championship) 28/12/09 Barnsley 2-1 Middlesbrough (Championship) 22/4/95 Barnsley 1-1 Middlesbrough (Division One) Overall Record: Middlesbrough Wins: 26 Barnsley Wins: 13 Draws: 11 Middlesbrough Goals: 90 Barnsley Goals: 46 At Middlesbrough (3 at Linthorpe Road West Cricket Ground, 20 at Ayresome Park, 2 at Riverside Stadium): Middlesbrough Wins: 18 Barnsley Wins: 3 Draws: 5 Middlesbrough Goals: 52 Barnsley Goals: 15 This Season Last six 2011-2012 results: Middlesbrough: 3/3/12 Portsmouth 1–3 Middlesbrough (Championship) 25/2/12 Middlesbrough 0-2 Reading (Championship) 21/2/12 Millwall 1-3 Middlesbrough (Championship) 14/2/12 Middlesbrough 2-1 Nottingham Forest (Championship) 8/2/12 Middlesbrough 1-2 Sunderland (FA Cup) 4/2/12 Middlesbrough 0-0 Crystal Palace (Championship) W: 3 D: 1 L: 2 F: 9 A: 7 GD: 2 Points: 10 Barnsley: 3/3/12 Barnsley 1–1 Nottingham Forest 25/2/12 Coventry 1-0 Barnsley (Championship) 21/2/12 Barnsley 1–3 Birmingham (Championship) 18/2/12 Barnsley 2–0 Portsmouth (Championship) 14/2/12 Burnley 2-0 Barnsley (Championship) 4/2/12 Watford 2-1 Barnsley (Championship) W: 1 D: 1 L: 4 F: 5 A: 9 GD: -4 Points: 4 Interesting Stats Middlesbrough, who started the season in blistering form before enduring a winter slump have started to reenergize their bid for a play-off place having won three of their last four matches to sit fifth in the Championship table. The Boro have though been struggling in front of their own fans in recent weeks, and have won just one of their last five league matches at the Riverside Stadium. Like Barnsley, clean sheets are proving hard to come by for Tony Mowbray’s side; they have managed just two in their last 13 matches. Barnsley are looking for only their third win in nine matches, and their first in four. The Reds have lost their last three on the road since winning 2-1 at Leicester in January and have failed to keep a clean sheet on their travels since August. Barnsley have won just three of 26 trips to Middlesbrough and none of the last four. The Reds last win on Teeside was at the old Ayresome Park ground in 1992. Barnsley have also scored just 15 times at Middlesbrough but have managed at least one goal in each of their last three trips. Mad Sites www.middlesbrough-mad.co.uk www.barnsley-mad.co.uk Official Sites www.mcfc.co.uk www.barnsleyfc.co.uk Other Fixtures Tuesday 6th March 2012 Bristol City v Leicester Coventry v Crystal Palace Derby v Blackpool Hull v Leeds Nottingham Forest v Doncaster Peterborough v Millwall Southampton v Ipswich Reading v Portsmouth Wednesday 7th March 2012: Brighton v Cardiff Burnley v Crystal Palace

Source: FOOTYMAD