Middlesbrough v Barnsley

After sharing six goals against Ipswich Town at Portman Road in midweek, Middlesbrough return to the Riverside to take on Barnsley on Saturday afternoon. Boro are currently unbeaten in six matches and it's that kind of recent consistency which has led them to virtual safety. Indeed should they win this time around their immediate future would be as good as assured, with only Scunthorpe United of the current bottom three being able to catch them in terms of maximum points, but with a vastly inferior goal-difference anyway. Barnsley have lost three of their last four games, although they pushed runaway leaders Queens Park Rangers all the way in midweek before finally going down 1-0.

"We have a few fresh injuries but I don't really want to say who because I know that Barnsley will be looking," Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray told the Northern Echo. "We continue to be stretched, that's all I will say. The run generally will give the team confidence. There is a belief that if we go a goal down we can get back into it. We go in expecting to get three points."

"It'll take him [Tony Mowbray] time but he's turning things round, with one or two youngsters getting an opportunity there. He's got a good track record," manager Mark Robins told Barnsley's official website. "It should make for a decent game. It's [Middlesbrough's] a big club - well-supported and I'm looking forward to taking my lads up there and putting a side out that were unfortunate the champions. We've got to be confident. We've got to keep passing the football and get the ball into the area like we did against QPR in the first-half."

Striker Marvin Emnes is suspended while defender Seb Hines [jaw] and midfielder Merouane Zemmama [hamstring] miss out through injury. The unfortunate Hines has already been ruled out for the rest of the campaign and undergone an operation that has required the insertion of three plates in his fractured jaw and the need for root canal surgery on his teeth.

Came off the bench to major effect in midweek at Ipswich.

Midfielder Hugo Colace is battling to recover from a knee injury while defender Bobby Hassell is still missing with ankle and hamstring problems. Reuben Noble-Lazarus has also reported sick.

Could make his 150th league appearance for the visitors.

This will be the fiftieth time the two clubs have clashed and Boro comfortably lead the way with 26 wins to 13. They have only lost at home three times to the Tykes in 22 league games.

C. Sarginson (Staffordshire)

Middlesbrough - Burnley (A); Barnsley - Watford (A)

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