PREVIEW | Middlesbrough vs Ipswich Town - team news, lineups, predictions | OneFootball

Middlesbrough kick off the Championship weekend on Friday as they host Ipswich Town at the Riverside Stadium (8pm, Sky Sports Football).

Boro sit second in the table after nine games, but head into the match on the back of their first league defeat of the season, a 1-0 loss at Portsmouth.

Ipswich, meanwhile, have been climbing steadily and come off a 3-1 derby win over bitter rivals Norwich. With both sides in strong form, it promises to be a competitive night in Teesside.

The Fan Zone

Daniel Oliveira (Playmaker Stats Editor): It’s been a solid start to the season for Boro, and there’s a real sense that something is building under Rob Edwards. After a few years of flirting with promotion but never quite getting over the line, they finally look like a side capable of staying in the mix.

That defeat to Portsmouth before the break was frustrating as Boro dominated most of the game, but couldn’t find the finishing touch. Still, one loss in nine definitely, isn’t a disaster and Edwards' men are only a point off top spot.

Friday’s clash with Ipswich is a big one. Boro have been excellent at the Riverside so far, and with the crowd behind them, they will be keen to return to winning ways. If they can sharpen up in front of goal, they’ve got more than enough quality to get the job done and keep the pressure on Coventry.

Prediction: 2-1

Adam Wilkin (Blue Monday): Having faced two of the bookies favourites early on in the season in Birmingham and Southampton, Town now have their first chance to take on one of the form sides in the division.

Home form has certainly picked up culminating in a comprehensive derby day victory before the international break. Away form has proved to be trickier with performances largely being disjointed even though results haven't been truly terrible.

Often Town have been frustrated by a low block and been unable to break teams down, but the game against Middlesbrough should be a more open game. If you can win your home games and get a point away you're on for a good season so I'd happily take a draw from this one.

Prediction: 1-1

Predicted lineups

Middlesbrough: Sol Brynn, Luke Ayling, Dael Fry, Alfie Jones, Callum Brittain, Hayden Hackney, Aidan Morris, Matt Targett, Morgan Whittaker, Dávid Strelec, Tommy Conway

Ipswich Town: Alex Palmer, Leif Davis, Cedric Kipré, Dara O’Shea, Darnell Furlong, Jens Cajuste, Azor Matusiwa, Jaden Philogene, Sammie Szmodics, Jack Clarke, George Hirst

Unavailable

Middlesbrough

Ipswich Town

Last starting XIs

Middlesbrough ( vs Portsmouth 2025-10-04): Sol Brynn, Luke Ayling, Dael Fry, Alfie Jones, Callum Brittain, Aidan Morris, Hayden Hackney, Matt Targett, Kaly Sené, Tommy Conway, Sontje Hansen

Ipswich Town ( vs Norwich City 2025-10-05): Alex Palmer, Darnell Furlong, Dara O’Shea, Cedric Kipré, Leif Davis, Jens Cajuste, Azor Matusiwa, Sindre Walle Egeli, Sammie Szmodics, Jaden Philogene, George Hirst