Middlesbrough will look to continue their strong Championship form when they host Charlton Athletic at the Riverside Stadium this Saturday. The leaders are unbeaten in their last five matches and sit two points clear at the top of the standings.
Michael Carrick's side have taken 25 points from their opening 12 games, a run that includes a thumping 5-1 away win at Bolton last time out. Will Lankshear scored twice in that victory, taking his season tally to 11 goals in 12 appearances. The team's recent form shows three wins and two draws, with the attack firing 27 goals already this campaign. Their defensive record is equally impressive, having conceded just 12 goals, the second-best in the division. This leaves them with a goal difference of plus 10 after 12 matches. Their recent results include a 2-2 draw with Cardiff on Saturday 17 October and a 3-2 win at Stoke City on Tuesday 13 October, part of an unbeaten sequence that also features a 1-0 victory over Wolves and a 2-2 draw with Birmingham.
Opposition struggles
Charlton arrive on Teesside in starkly different form, having taken just two points from their last four matches. They were beaten 3-1 at home by Norwich City in their most recent outing and sit 19th in the table. Their last four results show two draws and two defeats, leaving them in need of a positive result.
Key players and line-up
Middlesbrough are expected to stick with their familiar 4-2-3-1 shape, with Lankshear leading the line. The midfield trio of Aidan Morris, Riley McGree and Amario Cozier-Duberry, who combined for goals and assists against Bolton, will provide the creative spark. Morris opened the scoring in that 5-1 win, while Cozier-Duberry scored one and assisted another, with McGree providing two assists. The last starting XI featured R. Vítek in goal behind a back four of C. Brittain, A. Phillips, A. Malanda and Neto Borges. Defender Malanda has been a standout, winning over 65% of his defensive duels this season.
Charlton's last line-up included A. Okonkwo in goal, with a defence marshalled by L. Jones and Billy Dawson Koumetio. Their main attacking threats are likely to come from K. Ahearne-Grant and C. Kelman. Ahearne-Grant is the team's top scorer with six goals, while midfielder George Dobson is a key presence in the centre of the park, leading the team in tackles and passes completed.
The match kicks off at 3pm on Saturday at the Riverside, where Middlesbrough will aim to strengthen their grip on top spot ahead of the next round of fixtures. Their next fixture is at home to Charlton on Saturday 31 October. Charlton will be without midfielder Coventry, who serves a one-match suspension for accumulated yellow cards.
