- Middlesbrough sit ninth in the Championship table
- Watford are 12th and only two points behind their hosts
- Recommended bet: Draw

Middlesbrough and Watford will each look to get their promotion campaigns back on track when they meet at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.

Boro are only three points and three places outside the play-offs, but three defeats in a row for Michael Carrick's men has derailed their progress.

The hosts are two points and three places ahead of Watford, but like Boro, they have also suffered a dip in form.

Tom Cleverley's side are winless in five games in the Championship and they will hope an away trip can galvanize them.

Team News

Carrick has numerous injury woes to contend with as Seny Dieng, Anfernee Dijksteel and Darragh Lenihan are all sidelined.

Midfield trio Jonny Howson, Riley McGree and Ben Doak are all hoping to return after recent injury layoffs.

Striker Kelechi Iheanacho could make his debut for Boro as he tries to fill the void left by Emmanuel Latte Lath, who recently departed for MLS outfit Atlanta United.

Watford goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann is sidelined until April due to an ACL injury, while Kwadwo Baah and Pierre Dwomoh are both out with thigh injuries.

The stats

Three defeats on the spin to Preston, Sunderland and Sheffield United have seen Middlesbrough fall three points behind sixth-placed West Brom.

Boro will not be panicking, though, with plenty of time remaining in the season, and they also have the boost of holding a game in hand on their rivals.

Watford were hammered 4-0 by Leeds last time out and they are now winless in five games, losing four of those matches.

The Hornets have actually won only one of their last 11 games in all competitions, but they are still just five points off the play-offs.

Prediction

Points are precious at this time of the season and both Middlesbrough and Watford are desperate to return to winning ways.

Boro will hope the arrival of Iheanacho can bolster their attack after the departure of Latte Lath and help them build some consistency.

Watford tried to attack Leeds last time but were undone by the class of Daniel Farke's team on the counter-attack. However, they may get more joy against a Boro side who have won only one of their last six at home.

With neither side in good form and so much riding on Saturday's meeting, the draw looks like the sensible play, with both teams eager to pick up points once again.

Back the draw at 33/10 with LiveScore Bet

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