Struggling Middlesbrough will be hoping to pull off an upset when they welcome high-flying Nottingham Forest in the upcoming league round. It’s 22nd vs 4th and the home crowd will have moderate expectations.
Both teams should be fairly well rested for this game, as they have had some quiet days to prepare. Hopefully this will translate into lots of action on the pitch.
Middlesbrough form and stats
Middlesbrough have played 18 Championship games at their own stadium so far this season, resulting in 6-7-5 (wins-draws-losses). Middlesbrough has three losses from their three previous games and the tension is increasing in the dressing room for both the manager J. Woodgate and the players. We have seen two home losses in a row now for Middlesbrough, who are hoping that the phrase “third time lucky” applies to them.
Times are rough for the home team, having gone 292 minutes without scoring a league goal. L. Wing was the last player to find the net.
Middlesbrough's previous game was also a home match, the defeat 0-1 versus Leeds United (placed 2nd). Heartbreak before that as Middlesbrough lost 0-1 at Barnsley's place.
Aynsley Pears had a busy but productive day in the Leeds United match. Despite making seven saves the loss could not be prevented.
The bookmakers consider this a fairly even contest. One could say only the home advantage separates the teams. It could be relevant to look at how Middlesbrough have performed in matches similar to this (as small favourites). Our database has found nine matches with the results: Won two, drawn three and lost four.
The goals haven't exactly been flowing for Middlesbrough here at Riverside Stadium in the league, with less than one goal per game on average (16 from 18 games). Middlesbrough are not conceding a lot of goals here at Riverside Stadium in the league, averaging less than one per game. The total is 17 from 18 matches.
Nottingham Forest form and stats
Playing away, Nottingham Forest have won 8 games, drawn 7 and suffered 3 defeats in the Championship this season.
The Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Brice Samba is collecting clean sheets like a laundry worker. It's been 205 league minutes without conceding a goal, and counting.
It's the second away game in a row for Nottingham Forest, but there's smiles all around after the 1-0 victory versus Cardiff City (placed 11th) in the Championship last time out. Ahead of that game was the 0-0 draw at home against Queens Park Rangers.
So, this is expected to be a close game, an even contest. Looking at earlier matches with Nottingham Forest playing away and similar expectations, we found 15 relevant matches. Results were five Nottingham Forest wins, four draws and six defeats.
A new game in only four days for Nottingham Forest, the Championship home match versus Millwall. Busy days.
Nottingham Forest have scored 26 goals on their travels this season, from 18 away games in the league. Nottingham Forest are defending well in their away games, having conceded only 17 times in 18 matches. For more goal statistics, check out the Statistics tab above.
Head 2 Head
The last H2H meeting was Nottingham Forest - Middlesbrough 1-1, played this season. Last ten meetings between the teams: Middlesbrough won three, Nottingham Forest won five and two draws. five games with over 2,5 goals, five matches with two goals or less.Top Goalscorers
  L. Grabban 16 goals |   A. Fletcher 7 goals | J. Lolley 7 goals |
Middlesbrough missing players
Nottingham Forest missing players
| Middlesbrough | Nottingham Forest | ||||||
| Total | Home | vs | Statistics | Stat | vs | Away | Total |
| 35 | 18 | 6 | Played | P | 6 | 18 | 35 |
| 8 | 6 | 0 | Won | W | 3 | 8 | 16 |
| 13 | 7 | 3 | Drew | D | 1 | 7 | 11 |
| 14 | 5 | 3 | Lost | L | 2 | 3 | 8 |
| 34 | 16 | 2 | Scored | S | 9 | 26 | 46 |
| 45 | 17 | 5 | Conceded | C | 7 | 17 | 33 |
| 94% | 94% | 83% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 94% | 94% |
| 57% | 44% | 33% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 83% | 72% | 66% |
| 34% | 22% | 0% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 50% | 44% | 40% |
| 29% | 17% | 0% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 17% | 22% | 20% |
| 9% | 6% | 0% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 17% | 6% | 6% |
| 46% | 44% | 33% | BTTS | BTTS | 67% | 61% | 51% |
| 26% | 33% | 17% | Clean Sheets | C S | 17% | 33% | 37% |
| 34% | 28% | 67% | Failed to Score | F T | 17% | 11% | 17% |
| 5.1 | 5.1 | 4.8 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 4.8 | 4.4 | 5.7 |
| 5.6 | 5 | 3.8 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 6.2 | 7.4 | 6.1 |
| 1.7 | 1.4 | 1.7 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 2.3 | 2.1 | 1.8 |
| 4 | 1 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 416 | 232 | 84 | Total Shots | T S | 75 | 212 | 462 |
| 115 | 59 | 22 | Shots on Target | S O | 21 | 60 | 115 |
| 30% | 27% | 9% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 43% | 43% | 40% |
- Middlesbrough has the fewest scored goals (34)
- Middlesbrough has the fewest scored goals in the first half (13)
- Nottingham Forest has the fewest conceded goals in the second half (14)
- Nottingham Forest have played more matches over 2,5 goals away than home.
- Nottingham Forest have won significantly less corners away then at home.
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | West Bromwich Albion | 36 | 19 | 12 | 5 | 64 | 37 | 18 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 36 | 23 | 18 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 28 | 14 | 27 | 69 |
| 2 | Leeds United | 36 | 20 | 8 | 8 | 54 | 30 | 17 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 24 | 13 | 19 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 30 | 17 | 24 | 68 |
| 3 | Fulham | 36 | 18 | 9 | 9 | 51 | 37 | 19 | 12 | 2 | 5 | 32 | 21 | 17 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 19 | 16 | 14 | 63 |
| 4 | Nottingham Forest | 35 | 16 | 11 | 8 | 46 | 33 | 17 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 20 | 16 | 18 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 26 | 17 | 13 | 59 |
| 5 | Brentford | 36 | 16 | 9 | 11 | 59 | 33 | 17 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 31 | 15 | 19 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 28 | 18 | 26 | 57 |
| 6 | Preston North End | 36 | 16 | 8 | 12 | 49 | 42 | 18 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 34 | 21 | 18 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 15 | 21 | 7 | 56 |
| 7 | Bristol City | 36 | 15 | 9 | 12 | 50 | 52 | 17 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 24 | 26 | 19 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 26 | 26 | -2 | 54 |
| 8 | Blackburn Rovers | 36 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 52 | 42 | 19 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 24 | 16 | 17 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 28 | 26 | 10 | 53 |
| 9 | Swansea City | 36 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 46 | 45 | 18 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 24 | 20 | 18 | 5 | 9 | 4 | 22 | 25 | 1 | 52 |
| 10 | Millwall | 36 | 12 | 15 | 9 | 41 | 40 | 18 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 25 | 18 | 18 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 16 | 22 | 1 | 51 |
| 11 | Cardiff City | 36 | 12 | 15 | 9 | 50 | 50 | 18 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 26 | 17 | 18 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 24 | 33 | 0 | 51 |
| 12 | Sheffield Wednesday | 36 | 13 | 9 | 14 | 46 | 44 | 18 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 16 | 21 | 18 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 30 | 23 | 2 | 48 |
| 13 | Derby County | 36 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 46 | 49 | 18 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 25 | 13 | 18 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 21 | 36 | -3 | 48 |
| 14 | Queens Park Rangers | 36 | 13 | 8 | 15 | 55 | 61 | 19 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 37 | 33 | 17 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 18 | 28 | -6 | 47 |
| 15 | Birmingham City | 36 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 47 | 54 | 17 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 26 | 26 | 19 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 21 | 28 | -7 | 47 |
| 16 | Reading | 36 | 12 | 9 | 15 | 43 | 41 | 18 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 23 | 24 | 18 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 20 | 17 | 2 | 45 |
| 17 | Huddersfield Town | 36 | 11 | 9 | 16 | 45 | 56 | 19 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 24 | 25 | 17 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 21 | 31 | -11 | 42 |
| 18 | Hull City | 36 | 11 | 8 | 17 | 48 | 58 | 19 | 6 | 3 | 10 | 27 | 33 | 17 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 21 | 25 | -10 | 41 |
| 19 | Wigan Athletic | 36 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 38 | 50 | 17 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 18 | 22 | 19 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 20 | 28 | -12 | 40 |
| 20 | Charlton Athletic | 36 | 10 | 9 | 17 | 44 | 53 | 18 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 25 | 22 | 18 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 19 | 31 | -9 | 39 |
| 21 | Stoke City | 36 | 11 | 6 | 19 | 44 | 54 | 18 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 24 | 23 | 18 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 20 | 31 | -10 | 39 |
| 22 | Middlesbrough | 35 | 8 | 13 | 14 | 34 | 45 | 18 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 18 | 28 | -11 | 37 |
| 23 | Barnsley | 36 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 42 | 60 | 18 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 26 | 31 | 18 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 16 | 29 | -18 | 34 |
| 24 | Luton Town | 36 | 10 | 4 | 22 | 43 | 71 | 18 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 27 | 27 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 16 | 44 | -28 | 34 |
- Middlesbrough FC
- Teesside Live - (local newspaper)
- The Northern Echo - (local newspaper)
- Nottingham Forest
- Nottinghamshire Live - (local newspaper)