Fighting for a place in the Championship playoffs, promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough are set to travel to Hillsborough Stadium to take on Sheffield Wednesday on Monday.
The Owls will be looking to end their six-game winless run, while Boro are hoping to make it back-to-back victories within five days.
Match preview
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Danny Rohl's Wednesday may have thought they had turned a corner when they took six points against Plymouth Argyle and Norwich City last month, but they have lost four and drawn just two of their matches since.
Last time out, the Owls followed up a 1-0 defeat on the road to Oxford United with a 2-0 loss at the hands of Stoke City, and the boss will be concerned that his team failed to score for the fourth time on their current six-game winless streak.
Even more damning is the fact that three of Rohl's side's four defeats since mid-March have come against teams that are below them in the table, and given their dire form, fans will be relieved that they are mathematically safe from relegation in 15th with 53 points.
That being said, Monday's hosts will want to end the season strongly as they prepare to go once again in 2025-26, though their record of five consecutive losses at Hillsborough suggests that they may struggle once again.
Should Wednesday defy their form and take a surprising three points next week, then they could find themselves level on points with 12th-placed Watford, leapfrogging both Queens Park Rangers and Norwich in the process.
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Meanwhile, Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough were in strong form heading into the closing stages of the season after winning four, drawing one and losing just one of their fixtures between late February and the start of April, but consecutive defeats earlier this month have put their promotion ambitions at risk.
Last time out, Boro bounced back from losses against Leeds United and Millwall with a narrow 2-1 victory over bottom-club Plymouth, and the manager will be hoping that Tommy Conway's 93rd-minute winner can inspire his team to take nine points from their remaining three games.
Carrick's side are currently seventh in the table with 63 points, three behind sixth-placed Coventry City and four behind fifth-placed Bristol City, but with a crucial showdown with the Sky Blues to come on May 3, the playoff spots could yet change hands.
However, the visitors' travelling record in 2025 has been less than stellar, and with six losses, three wins and one draw on the road this year, as well as only scoring in one of their last four away from the Riverside Stadium, Boro will have to work for all three points on Monday, regardless of their opponents' form.
If Middlesbrough can make the most of their chance against the struggling Owls, then their superior goal difference could see them replace Coventry in the playoff places, but anything less than matching their rivals' result could be disastrous.
Team News
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Sheffield Wednesday will be without left-back Max Lowe once again as he works his way back from a knee injury that is expected to keep him out for the remainder of the season.
In his absence, Ryo Hatuse could line up on the left-hand side of Rohl's defence, while Dominic Iorfa and Akin Famewo should start at centre-back with Di'Shon Bernard out until the summer.
As for Middlesbrough, attacking left-back Neto Borges is nearing a return from an ankle injury but will not be ready to take part on Monday, so Carrick is likely to turn to Samuel Iling Junior once again.
Elsewhere, goalkeeper Seny Dieng has not made a matchday squad since January, but first-choice stopper Mark Travers is available and will be shielded by Jonny Howson and Rav van den Berg.
Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:
Charles; Valery, Iorfa, Famewo, Hatsuse; Charles, Ingelsson; Windass, Armstrong, Gassama; Paterson
Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Travers; Dijksteel, Howson, Van den Berg, Junior; Morris, Hackney; Forss, Whittaker, Azaz; Conway
We say: Sheffield Wednesday 0-1 Middlesbrough
Wednesday have been in awful form ahead of Monday's clash, and with Middlesbrough chasing a spot in the playoffs, the visitors will be motivated to make the most of their opportunity.
That being said, Boro have been poor on the road this year, so expect a close scoreline regardless of the result.
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