Middlesbrough prepare to host Bristol City on Saturday 21 November aiming to tighten their grip on an automatic promotion spot. The fixture at the Riverside Stadium comes after an international break that allowed top scorer Will Lankshear to recover fully from a minor hamstring issue.
Kim Hellberg's side sit second in the Championship standings, level on 29 points with leaders Birmingham City but behind on goal difference. Their recent form has been mixed, with two wins, two draws and a defeat in their last five, including a goalless stalemate at Watford last time out. Boro's home record, however, is formidable, with five wins and a draw from their six league games at the Riverside this season.
Lankshear's timely return
Will Lankshear's availability is a major boost after he missed the Watford match. The striker's seven goals in October earned him the Championship's Player of the Month award, seeing off competition from James Bree of Southampton and Andri Gudjohnsen of Burnley. He has 13 goals in 13 league appearances this campaign.
"I’m really happy to win this award," Lankshear said upon receiving it. "I’d like to thank all of my teammates, because individual recognition like this wouldn’t be possible without them."
The summer signing from Tottenham Hotspur was instrumental in an unbeaten October that featured wins over Wolves, Stoke, Bolton and Charlton. His return sharpens an attack that has scored 30 league goals, the second-highest tally in the division. Hellberg confirmed Lankshear is fit and ready to start, praising the 19-year-old's mentality and clinical edge.
Bristol City's tough task
Visitors Bristol City arrive in indifferent form, having won just once in their last seven matches across all competitions. Michael Skubala's team are 15 places and 11 points behind Boro, having conceded five at home to Norwich City in a heavy defeat just before the break. City's defensive record is a concern, with 24 goals conceded, one of the leakiest in the league.
Their schedule after the Riverside trip is congested, with away games at Derby County and West Ham United in the Carabao Cup coming in quick succession. They have only one more home league fixture, against Coventry City, scheduled between now and Christmas, placing extra importance on picking up points on the road.
Middlesbrough will be without the suspended Anel Ahmedhodžić, who serves a one-match ban, but otherwise have a full-strength squad to choose from. The focus for Hellberg is on starting another positive run to maintain pressure at the top. Bristol City, meanwhile, will assess midfielder Williams, who is nearing a return from a calf strain, but will definitely be without long-term absentee Rob Atkinson.
