Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough make the trip to Deepdale on Saturday afternoon (15:00 GMT) as they look to strength their position in the Championship play-off places.

Boro beat fellow promotion contenders West Bromwich Albion 2-0 to go fifth in the table.

Preston North End have not lost in their past three league games and earned a point against Middlesbrough in September's reverse fixture.

• Preston have won each of their past four home league games against Middlesbrough since December 2020, as many victories as across their 18 prior matches at Deepdale combined (W4 D6 L8).

• Middlesbrough have won two of their past four league games against Preston 4-0 (W2 D1 L1), though both of those victories came at the Riverside Stadium.

• Preston are unbeaten across their past seven home league games (W2 D5), last enjoying a longer run at Deepdale between April and November 2019 (11 games).

• Middlesbrough lost 2-1 at Portsmouth in their last away league match, last losing consecutive games on the road back in December 2023.

• Preston's Emil Riis has struck six goals across his seven league games against Middlesbrough, his most goals against any side in his English league career. Five of those strikes have also come at Deepdale.

Image source, Getty Images

Middlesbrough have won the race to sign highly-rated non-league starlet Brayden Johnson.

The 18-year-old midfielder has caught the eye in 22 appearances for Eastbourne Borough in National League South this season.

The Londoner reportedly received interest from Premier League West Ham and Ipswich and Championship side QPR, but has now signed his first professional deal at the Riverside., external

Fleet-footed Johnson will link-up with Mark Tinkler's Under-21 side.

"It wasn't bad was it...? No keeper was saving that," Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney tells the Red Alert podcast after team-mate Ben Doak curls home their second goal for a 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion.

BBC Radio Tees' Paul Addison is ed by former Middlesbrough midfielder Neil Maddison and Boro fan Dana Malt as they react to a big three points against fellow play-off contenders.

Plus post-match interviews with Hackney and boss Michael Carrick.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Rex Features

Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick described his side's first win in four games as a "good step" in the right direction after beating Tony Mowbray's West Bromwich Albion 2-0 at the Riverside.

"When you have a sticky run, it's all about getting the win," he told BBC Radio Tees. "The fact that we kept a clean sheet too was great.

"There's loads of football to be played this season. We hadn't felt any pressure. Why do we need to be 'glass half-empty' all the time?

"It was an important win for us. We played some really good football. They were two fantastic goals - both of them, for different sort of reasons.

"We had to defend a little deeper in the second half but we did it well. And we controlled it, against a really good team with good players.

"First half we were very good with the ball. We controlled it for large bits, played some really good football and caused some problems playing through them, getting around the box.

"There was a natural feeling maybe of the boys being desperate for a win and clean sheet. But I'm really pleased with a win, it's a good step for us.

"Hayden Hackney's goal was probably a little bit too far out. It's something where you think 'maybe not!' Ben Doak's was terrific, probably a little bit more predictable in of the distance, But the way he came inside, I fancied him to shoot and take it on.

"We definitely encourage the boys to express themselves. There's a part of their decision making and taking shots that percentage-wise gives you a better chance without just shooting from everywhere. It's getting that balance right."

Middlesbrough host West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday as they try to move above the visitors in the Championship table (19:45 GMT).

Only the one goal difference separates the sides, with the West Midlands club currently in sixth spot.

Neither club have won either of the past two league games, though a draw would be enough to take both into the play-off places if things do not go well for Blackburn Rovers and Watford elsewhere.

• Middlesbrough have won each of their past two league games against West Brom 1-0, and will be looking to win three in succession against the Baggies for the first time since April 2005.

• West Brom have won one of their past six away league games against Middlesbrough (W1 D2 L3), and could lose on successive such visits for the first time since a run of six losses between February 1991 and April 2005.

• Middlesbrough are unbeaten in each of their past five home league games (W2 D3), though they have drawn each of their past three league matches at the Riverside Stadium.

• West Brom have won one of their past 11 away league games (W1 D7 L3).

• Middlesbrough's Ben Doak has been involved in six goals in his past seven league games at the Riverside Stadium (1 goal, 5 assists).

Middlesbrough are hoping to complete the loan g of Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers this week, although the deal is still awaiting final approval from the Cherries. (Talksport), external

Boro are also close to sealing a deal for Hull City left-back Ryan Giles. (Talksport), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Tuesday's gossip column here.

Image source, Rex Features

New West Bromwich Albion boss Tony Mowbray will have good knowledge of opponents Middlesbrough when they meet on Tuesday, according to head coach Michael Carrick.

Former Middlesbrough defender and manager Mowbray took over at the Baggies last week after recovering from bowel cancer.

"It's obviously been a challenging time for Tony and his family - he came to the ground and watched us so he's got a good idea of what we do, but it's been great to know he's been back," Carrick told BBC Radio Tees.

"He was going to come and watch us train at some point but he never got around to doing that, and now he's got a fantastic job and it's a new chapter for him and health-wise it's all positive, so it'll be nice to see him again."

Carrick said it could be "a number of weeks" before injured duo Riley McGree and Anfernee Dijksteel return, while on-loan midfielder Ben Doak and forward Emmanuel Latte Lath will be available despite rumours surrounding their futures.

Image source, Rex Features

Michael Carrick insisted his Middlesbrough side need to "change the cycle" after losing 2-1 at relegation-threatened Portsmouth.

Boro have won just one of their last six league outings and were nudged out of the play off places by West Brom following defeat at Fratton Park.

Carrick said: "I'm bitterly disappointed with the result and the way we finished the game. We're hurting tonight and we have to change the cycle.

"We put ourselves in a good position at a tough place to come and dealt with it for 50-odd minutes.

"The second goal would have been important for us and this is the type of place there is always a moment.

"We spoke about that at half-time and the first goal we conceded was an awful one for us.

"It's a position we've been in recently where we've put ourselves in great positions but not got anything from it. We've got to change that pretty quickly."

Image source, Rex Features

Middlesbrough striker Emmanuel Latte Lath will make the trip to Portsmouth on Saturday despite being linked to MSL club Atlanta United.

The US side have submitted a £16m bid for the Ivory Coast international. However, Boro boss Michael Carrick has confirmed that Latte Lath will be involved with Saturday's Championship match (15:00 GMT).

Boro are also boosted by the return of midfielder Aidan Morris, keeper Seny Dieng and defender Luke Ayling, who are all back in training.

While forward Tommy Conway won't be back in action, he "won't be out for too long", according to Carrick.

However, defenders Darragh Lenihan and Tommy Smith have both suffered setbacks and are now doubts for the remainder of the season.

You can listen to Carrick's full pre-match press conference on BBC Sounds.

Middlesbrough midfielder Alex Gilbert has caught the eye of Swansea City, with the 23-year-old struggling for game time in the north east. (Football League World, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Friday's gossip here.

Portsmouth host sixth placed Middlesbrough on Saturday as the look to escape the relegation zone (15:00 GMT).

Pompey have lost their past two league games to put themselves just two points above basement dwellers Plymouth Argyle, however could lift themselves out of the bottom three with a home win.

On the other hand, Boro are on a six-match unbeaten streak in the league but did suffer an FA Cup third round loss to Blackburn Rovers last weekend.

• Portsmouth have won just one of their last ten league games against Middlesbrough (D6 L3), a 2-1 victory at Fratton Park in September 2008 in the Premier League.

• Five of the last six league games between Middlesbrough and Portsmouth have finished in draws, with Boro winning the other 3-1 in March 2012 courtesy of goals from Barry Robson, Matthew Bates and Marvin Emnes.

• Pompey are unbeaten in their last five home league games (W4 D1), scoring three or more goals in their four wins during that spell; they could score 4+ goals in three straight matches at Fratton Park for the first time since October 1979.

• Middlesbrough have drawn four of their last five league games (W1), as many stalemates as across their previous 24 Championship matches (W12 L8).

• No teenager has been directly involved in more Championship goals so far this season than Middlesbrough's Ben Doak (2 goals, 6 assists); in fact, the Liverpool loanee also has the most assists across that same cohort in England's top four tiers in 2024-25 (6).

Middlesbrough want to turn George Edmundson's loan from Ipswich into a permanent deal. (Football League World, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column.

Middlesbrough are in advanced talks to sign Hull City left-back Ryan Giles, who made 45 appearances for Boro while on loan from Wolves in their 22/23 season. (Football League World, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday's gossip here.

Mark Drury
BBC Radio Tees commentator

Image source, Rex Features

With half of January gone many Middlesbrough fans are looking for the club to kick-start a recruitment drive.

Boro's flat performance in losing at home to Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup on Saturday has added to a sense of drift that has been developing in recent weeks.

Middlesbrough are unbeaten in their last six Championship games, but four of those have been draws. Two came against struggling sides Boro would expect to beat in Plymouth Argyle and Cardiff City, while the 3-3 draw against Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day saw Michael Carrick's side surrender a 3-0 half-time lead.

Boro want to do business this month and have a decision to make over Emmanuel Latte Lath who is the subject of an offer from MLS side Atlanta United which could total £20 million all told.

Boro know there is Premier League interest in the striker but how long are they prepared to wait for offers to materialise? For Latte Lath's part, a move to the Premier League would be hard to turn down.

Isaiah Jones ed fellow Championship side Luton Town last Friday and Liverpool loanee Ben Doak remains on Teesside despite offers for his services from Ipswich Town and Crystal Palace. Boro remain confident Doak is happy and wants to stay but have contingency plans in place.

Boro's interest in Hull City defender Ryan Giles is part of a drive to reinvigorate the left-hand side of their attack.

Michael Carrick is a big fan of the full-back who helped himself to 12 assists in Boro's play-off season two years ago. A deal has yet to be done though despite talks having taken place with the Tigers.

They also want to sign George Edmundson to a permanent deal. The central defender has been a big hit at The Riverside in the first-half of his season-long loan deal.

He's out of contract at Ipswich in the summer but the Tractor Boys are yet to give the green light to his move.

In many ways the situation is the same as it was at the start of the month. If Latte Lath leaves, then expect Boro to reinvest that money around the rest of the squad. If he stays, business will be quieter.

Whichever way things go in the next fortnight, Boro fans need to see some spark return to their play before the huge meeting with derby rivals Sunderland on 3 February.

Middlesbrough have renewed their interest in Hull City left-back Ryan Giles and want to sign the 24-year-old in January. (HullLive), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Tuesday's gossip here.