Middlesbrough vs Stoke City

Stoke City are back in the north as Alex Neil takes on promotion-chasing Middlesbrough. Stoke are trying to build on two impressive back-to-back wins over ...

Neil has seen his side win 5-1 at Sunderland and secure a 3-2 home victory over Blackburn Rovers to move up to 14th in the table. A run of 14 wins in 18 games has catapulted Boro up the Championship table and they now sit four points behind Sheffield United with 10 games remaining. But I'm not naive to the fact that if we go and lose the next game or don't perform well it'll be the same stuff put about. Our 2-1 win at the Victoria Ground in January 1955 was the only time we ever won away on New Year's Day from joining the league in 1899 until 2018." Jack Bonham stays in goal behind a back for of Ki-Jana Hoever, Dujon Sterling, Wilmot and Axel Tuanzebe. We spoke when we first came in about wanting to do better than we have in the last four seasons. The manager has played Morgan a lot this season and Ben has recovered quite quick from his knock. But they will have their work cut out against a Middlesbrough side whose results have been transformed since Michael Carrick took over in October, finding them fourth from bottom of the Championship. Nathan Lowe, the 17-year-old forward, misses out with a back injury. Neil is targeting at least the club's best finish since relegation from the Premier League in 2018 and trying to get into the top half. Axel and Ben have previously played well as a combination too. We would also like to hear from you, so please send us your views via our Stoke City

Live updates from the Riverside as Michael Carrick's Boro look to pile the pressure on Sheffield United in the Championship promotion race.

Even without the pair though, Carrick has a strong pool of options to choose from for the game, with no other injury concerns reported from the weekend. Crooksy is touch and go at the moment, and we’ll make a late call on him." [Middlesbrough](https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/all-about/middlesbrough) to getting the positive results they will need if automatic promotion dreams are to be realised. The clash at the Riverside sees two of the Championship's form teams go head to head, with Michael Carrick not yet sure whether two important players in his squad will be available. We do appreciate the moment that we’re in right now, and we’ll try and make the best of it." But at the same point, the boys that are in are in a good moment and a good rhythm so that’s part of a squad game and part of things going well. Of course though, we’re all in football to achieve and we want to be as high as we can. That’s for every player in the squad and, I have to say, the boys have been really good at bringing out the best in themselves so far." Paul Heckingbottom's Sheffield United play [Sunderland](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/all-about/sunderland-afc) at the Stadium of Light tomorrow, so this is a real chance to continue to turn up the heat. [Middlesbrough](https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/all-about/middlesbrough) contention. That’s just the challenge of having a career in the game. It's a difficult period for the flying winger who, this time last year, would have been considered one of the first names on the team sheet.

Middlesbrough host Stoke City looking to close the gap on Sheffield United to just one point · The teams drew 2-2 when they met earlier this season · The Potters ...

- The Potters have scored eight goals in their last two games - The teams drew 2-2 when they met earlier this season - Middlesbrough host Stoke City looking to close the gap on Sheffield United to just one point

Where to watch Middlesbrough vs Stoke Championship game, plus kick-off time & team news.

[Watch Middlesbrough vs Stoke live on Sky Sports today!](https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=11005&awinaffid=918243&clickref=SEOMatchPreview&platform=dl&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sky.com%2Ftv%2Fsports) Carrick has an otherwise fully fit squad to pick his lineup from. Middlesbrough team news & squad Stoke team news & squad How to watch Middlesbrough vs Stoke on TV & live stream online Middlesbrough vs Stoke date & kick-off time

Ben Wilmot is back to start for Stoke City against Middlesbrough. The centre-back missed Friday night's 3-2 win over Blackburn Rovers after picking up an ...

Jack Bonham stays in goal behind a back for of Ki-Jana Hoever, Dujon Sterling, Wilmot and Axel Tuanzebe. Nathan Lowe, the 17-year-old forward, misses out with a back injury. Stoke have travelled north on the back of back-to-back wins and are searching a third win in a row for only the second time since October 2016. [Stoke City player ratings vs Blackburn as Ki-Jana Hoever double seals rare feat](https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stoke-city-blackburn-player-ratings-8240507) [Stoke City boss opens up on Will Smallbone, reason behind form and 'frightening' legs](https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stoke-city-blackburn-will-smallbone-8235345) [Smallbone, Maja, Sima - Stoke City's 28 loan players since relegation ranked](https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/gallery/stoke-city-loan-players-smallbone-8233714) [Alex Neil has his say on goalkeeper situation after Stoke City injury set-back](https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stoke-city-blackburn-team-news-8235330) [Alex Neil lays out what he has to deliver as he 'turns around Stoke City juggernaut'](https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stoke-city-manager-alex-neil-8234911) The centre-back missed Friday night's 3-2 win over Blackburn Rovers after picking up an injury at Sunderland the previous weekend but comes straight back in at the Riverside in place of Morgan Fox. Ben Wilmot is back to start for Stoke City against Middlesbrough.

A goal apiece in the first half saw Boro pegged back to a 1-1 draw against Stoke City at the Riverside Stadium. Chuba Akpom's 23rd of the season gave ...

7 McNair: Confident display. Solid defensively and calm in possession, carrying the ball out and through midfield. 6 Lenihan: Tested defensively by a Stoke side ...

Got better as the game went on and went close a couple of times in the second half. Replaced in the second half. Man of the match: Will Smallbone. Barlaser (for Howson, 66): Tried to get on the ball but bit sloppy in possession. 5 Hackney: A rare off night for the young midfielder, who was uncharacteristically sloppy in possession. 6 Howson: Alongside Hackney, struggled to get a grip of the game in the middle against the impressive Smallbone.

The Potters were impressive on Friday in a 3-2 home win over Blackburn Rovers, despite the visitors threatening a fightback late-on after trailing by three ...

[here at StokeonTrentLive](https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/all-about/stoke-city-fc) with Stoke City writer [Peter Smith](https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/authors/peter-smith/) providing teams news, live match updates, player ratings, reaction and analysis. Alternatively, you can watch the match highlights a day later on Wednesday, March 15, from 10.30pm on ITV 4. And Stoke now face another tough test from a Middlesbrough team sitting third in the Championship. You can also follow Pete on Twitter [here](https://twitter.com/PeteSmith1983) and Facebook [here](https://www.facebook.com/PeteSmithSentinel/) Michael Carrick's side have won seven of their last eight matches, having been hovering just above the relegation zone when the former Manchester United midfielder took over at the Riverside in late October. [Stoke City player ratings vs Blackburn as Ki-Jana Hoever double seals rare feat](https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stoke-city-blackburn-player-ratings-8240507) [Stoke City boss opens up on Will Smallbone, reason behind form and 'frightening' legs](https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stoke-city-blackburn-will-smallbone-8235345) [Smallbone, Maja, Sima - Stoke City's 28 loan players since relegation ranked](https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/gallery/stoke-city-loan-players-smallbone-8233714) [Alex Neil has his say on goalkeeper situation after Stoke City injury set-back](https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stoke-city-blackburn-team-news-8235330) [Alex Neil lays out what he has to deliver as he 'turns around Stoke City juggernaut'](https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stoke-city-manager-alex-neil-8234911)

HERE are the Middlesbrough FC player ratings from Tuesday night's Championship home game with Stoke City at the Riverside Stadium.

Got better, against his old club. Smith: Campbell was a speedy operator against him. 7

Chuba Akpom grabbed a landmark goal but Middlesbrough missed a chance to turn up the heat on promotion rivals Sheffield United. Advertisement.

Mid-table Stoke hit back on the stroke of half-time through Ki-Jana Hoever, the on-loan Wolves defender firing through the legs of keeper Zack Steffen from Josh Laurent's crossfield pass to make it three goals in five days for the Dutch youngster. Middlesbrough miss the chance to put the pressure on Sheffield United as Michael Carrick's promotion hopefuls are held to a home draw by Stoke City in the Championship Manager Michael Carrick has lifted Middlesbrough to third in the Championship