Middlesbrough v Queens Park Rangers: promotion chase meets play-off push | OneFootball

Middlesbrough host Queens Park Rangers in the Championship on Saturday, 13 December at Riverside Stadium, with the hosts defending second place and the visitors eyeing the play-off picture after four wins in five.

Middlesbrough won both league meetings last season, including a 4-1 away win and a 2-1 home victory. This edition pairs 2nd against 7th with both sides in good nick.

Boro arrive on three straight wins, beating Derby before eye-catching away victories at Hull and Charlton. Queens Park Rangers have four wins in their last five, backing up success at Blackburn with home victories over West Brom and Birmingham.

Boro are without defenders Darragh Lenihan and Dael Fry, while midfielders Aidan Morris and Abdoulaye Kanté are also sidelined. Queens Park Rangers are missing Illias Chair, Samuel Field, Paul Smyth, Ziyad Larkeche, Harvey Vale and Rayan Kolli.

Expect contrasting approaches. Boro average 55% possession with 83.90% pass accuracy, while Queens Park Rangers sit at 48% and 76.21%. The visitors have excelled in the air with 468 aerial duels won, and their 18.60% crossing accuracy could suit Rumarn Burrell, who has nine league goals. For Boro, Morgan Whittaker has seven, with Callum Brittain and Hayden Hackney supplying four assists each.

A win would take Boro to 42 points and could tighten their grip on the automatic places. Queens Park Rangers, on 31 points, would move to 34 with victory and could climb into the play-off positions.