Gossip: Boro move on from Sarmiento pursuitpublished at 11:54 GMT
11:54 GMT
Image source, BBC Sport
Middlesbrough have turned to other attacking targets after failing to agree a deal with Brighton for 23-year-old Ecuador international Jeremy Sarmiento. (Northern Echo - subscription required), external
Pick of the stats: Stoke City v Middlesbroughpublished at 16:46 GMT 19 January
16:46 GMT 19 January
Image source, Opta
Stoke City and Middlesbrough will seek to answer back to their promotion rivals when they play the final match of the round on Wednesday (20:00 GMT).
Depending how Coventry and Ipswich fare the previous night, Boro could be as many as nine points off the top and down to third by the time they kick-off at the Bet365, seeking a third straight win after scoring seven across their past two victories.
The Potters have kept five clean sheets in their past six games but are seeking a first win in four at home, but a defeat could see them drop out of the top-10, depending on results elsewhere.
Stoke have only enjoyed three wins in their past 15 league meetings with Middlesbrough (D5 L7), winning none of their last three against Boro (D1 L2).
After their 3-1 win last season, Middlesbrough could win on back-to-back league visits to Stoke for only the second time in their history, previously doing so in March 1956.
Stoke have won each of their past five home league matches played on a Wednesday, their best winning streak on this day of the week since December 1996 (6).
Middlesbrough have only lost two of their past 13 away league matches on a Wednesday (W8 D3), defeats at Preston in February 2024 (1-2) and Sheffield United in February 2025 (1-3).
Mark Robins has won six of his nine previous Championship home games against Middlesbrough as a manager (D1 L2), although did lose his only one as Stoke boss last season (1-3).
Gossip: Premier League clubs keen on Hackneypublished at 11:10 GMT 19 January
11:10 GMT 19 January
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester United are eyeing a £30m deal for Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney, who could be reunited with former Boro boss Michael Carrick, while Tottenham Hotspur and Everton are reportedly also interested. (Manchester Evening News), external