A home win is expected from this fixture if the league table is anything to judge by. The Middlesbrough fans are optimistic that the difference between 8th and Nottingham Forest's 20th place in the table will show on the pitch.
It's no vacation for neither Middlesbrough nor Nottingham Forest as both were in action only a few days ago. Expect some tired legs on the pitch and/or possibly some changes to the lineups.
Middlesbrough form and stats
2-2-0 (win-draw-lost) are the Championship numbers at home for Middlesbrough so far this season.
Middlesbrough's previous game was a Championship match also played at home, ending 2-0 versus Coventry City (placed 22nd). The home side are looking to build on that result. Preceding that game was the away draw at Cardiff City that finished 1-1.
This is expected to be a close game, with Middlesbrough perhaps considered small favourites due to their home advantage. Looking back at earlier matches similar to this one (expected to be close with Middlesbrough as a small favourite), we find twelve games. Middlesbrough has won two of these, drawn four and lost six.
There will be little rest for Middlesbrough after this match as they are travelling to Blackburn Rovers for a Championship game in only three days.
The Middlesbrough fans would probably like to see some more goals scored at their own stadium in the league, the tally being 5 in 4 matches. Middlesbrough have showed great defending skills in these home games, allowing the opposition to score only 2 goals.
Nottingham Forest form and stats
Playing away, Nottingham Forest have won 1 game, drawn 1 and suffered 2 defeats in the Championship this season. With three draws in a row for Nottingham the feeling in the team is perhaps one of both relief and disappointment.
Nottingham are the visiting side once again, their previous game being the 1-1 draw at Luton Town (placed 9th). A 1-1 draw was the result before that, hosting Derby County.
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 20 relevant matches. Results were five Nottingham wins, seven draws and eight defeats.
A new game in only four days for Nottingham, the Championship home match versus Coventry City. Busy days.
Nottingham Forest are seemingly not capable of scoring regularly on their travels in the league. They have only managed 2 goals from 4 away games. 4 goals have been conceded by Nottingham in these games.
Head 2 Head
Numbers for the last ten meetings between these two teams are: three wins for Middlesbrough, two draws and five wins for Nottingham Forest. Over 2,5 goals: six times; under 2,5 goals: four games.Top Goalscorers
  G. Saville 2 goals |  C. Akpom 2 goals |  D. Spence 1 goals |
Middlesbrough missing players
Nottingham Forest missing players
| Middlesbrough | Nottingham Forest | ||||||
| Total | Home | vs | Statistics | Stat | vs | Away | Total |
| 8 | 4 | 2 | Played | P | 0 | 4 | 8 |
| 3 | 2 | 2 | Won | W | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | 2 | 0 | Drew | D | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | Lost | L | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| 8 | 5 | 4 | Scored | S | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| 5 | 2 | 1 | Conceded | C | 0 | 4 | 10 |
| 88% | 75% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 0% | 100% | 100% |
| 62% | 75% | 100% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 0% | 50% | 75% |
| 12% | 25% | 50% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 0% | 0% | 12% |
| 0% | 0% | 0% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| 0% | 0% | 0% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| 50% | 50% | 50% | BTTS | BTTS | 0% | 25% | 50% |
| 38% | 50% | 50% | Clean Sheets | C S | 0% | 25% | 12% |
| 25% | 25% | 0% | Failed to Score | F T | 0% | 50% | 38% |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1.8 | 2.8 | 4 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 0 | 1.8 | 1.1 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 96 | 55 | 29 | Total Shots | T S | 0 | 41 | 103 |
| 26 | 17 | 10 | Shots on Target | S O | 0 | 10 | 27 |
| 31% | 29% | 40% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 0% | 20% | 19% |
- Middlesbrough have not yet lost a game at home.
- Middlesbrough have played more matches over 2,5 goals home than away.
- Middlesbrough have scored at least twice as many goals as they have conceded at home.
- Middlesbrough have scored at least twice as many goals at home as Nottingham Forest have scored away.
- Nottingham Forest has the fewest scored goals in the first half (1) in Championship
- Nottingham Forest haven’t played a single 0-0 game.
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Reading | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 12 | 22 |
| 2 | AFC Bournemouth | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 16 |
| 3 | Millwall | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 15 |
| 4 | Swansea City | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 15 |
| 5 | Watford | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 15 |
| 6 | Bristol City | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 14 |
| 7 | Norwich City | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 14 |
| 8 | Middlesbrough | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 13 |
| 9 | Luton Town | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
| 10 | Stoke City | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 12 |
| 11 | Brentford | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 11 |
| 12 | Blackburn Rovers | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 18 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 10 |
| 13 | Preston North End | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 10 |
| 14 | Cardiff City | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
| 15 | Birmingham City | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| 16 | Huddersfield Town | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 10 |
| 17 | Rotherham United | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | -1 | 9 |
| 18 | Barnsley | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | -1 | 7 |
| 19 | Queens Park Rangers | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 | -4 | 7 |
| 20 | Nottingham Forest | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -5 | 6 |
| 21 | Derby County | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -8 | 5 |
| 22 | Coventry City | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 | -10 | 5 |
| 23 | Wycombe Wanderers | 8 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 10 | -13 | 1 |
| 24 | Sheffield Wednesday | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -4 | -4 |
- Middlesbrough FC
- Teesside Live - (local newspaper)
- The Northern Echo - (local newspaper)
- Nottingham Forest
- Nottinghamshire Live - (local newspaper)