Middlesbrough vs Watford Championship preview, team news and prediction

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Middlesbrough welcome Watford on Saturday afternoon knowing a win is essential if they are to keep faint hopes of automatic promotion alive.

Boro sit fifth in the Championship and, after a seven-game winless run at a crucial stage of the season, a top-two finish is now heavily dependent on other results. Kim Hellberg’s side did at least steady themselves in midweek with a 1-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday, backing up a creditable 2-2 draw at Ipswich. The bigger issue has been home form: Boro had gone without a Riverside win since January 31 before edging past Wednesday, and they still have a final-day trip to Wrexham to come.

Watford arrive in far poorer shape, slipping to 15th after three straight defeats. The run has increased pressure on head coach Ed Still, who has taken just 13 points from 14 games since replacing Javi Gracia in February. Worse, recent losses to Oxford, Sheffield United and West Brom have brought no goals scored and seven conceded.

The Hornets have managed only two goals in their last six matches and have lost their last four away games, with the 3-0 defeat at West Brom the heaviest of that sequence. Another couple of defeats could even see Watford drop as low as 17th — a finish lower than they have managed in the Championship since 2009-10.

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Kim Hellberg may look to freshen up Middlesbrough in attack, with Jeremy Sarmiento, Sam Silvera and Kaly Sene all options in the final third. Leo Castledine is also in contention, but Alfie Jones, Hayden Hackney and Riley McGree are expected to miss out through injury.

At left-back, Alex Bangura could come in for Matt Targett as Boro manage minutes following recent fitness issues.

Watford boss Ed Still is likely to rotate too, with Jeremy Ngakia, Imran Louza and Kwadwo Baah all pushing for starts. At centre-back, a shortage of options could even see Marc Bola used there despite not featuring in the role this season, potentially replacing James Abankwah after Watford’s struggles at The Hawthorns.

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