Middlesbrough lost at Bristol City after four straight wins in the Championship
Blackburn beat Millwall to claim a first victory in six matches
Recommended bet: Middlesbrough win and over 2.5 goals
Second-place Middlesbrough host Blackburn at the Riverside on Boxing Day when they will be looking to get back to winning ways following Saturday’s 2-0 loss at the hands of Bristol City.
Rovers, meanwhile, beat Millwall at Ewood Park after a run of five games without victory to move six points clear of the bottom three.
The latest Middlesbrough vs Blackburn odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Team news
Middlesbrough will be without Riley McGree who picked up a muscle problem at Bristol City. Defenders Dael Fry and Darragh Lenihan are both sidelined through injury while Aidan Morris is also unavailable.
Abdoulaye Kante will not feature due to a calf issue.
Blackburn have a number of players out for the trip to the Riverside, including Scott Wharton, Jake Garrett, Hayden Carter, Balazs Toth, Adam Forshaw and Augustus Kargbo.
Defender Yuri Ribeiro missed the win over Millwall through illness but could return.
The stats
Middlesbrough recorded 28 shots at Bristol City — the most the team have hit in a game this season — but failed to score.
Blackburn have lost just one of their last away games, collecting 10 points from a possible 15.
Boro have failed to earn a clean sheet in 11 matches, last recording a shutout in a 1-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday in October.
Rovers' last defeat at the Riverside came on Boxing Day 2012 — Lukas Jutkiewicz grabbing the winner for the hosts in a 1-0 victory.
The latest Middlesbrough vs Blackburn odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg will have been disappointed to lose his 100% record having won his first four games in charge.
However, defeat at Bristol City will have taught him more about his team. It was far from a poor performance, though, with his side somewhat unfortunate as they registered 28 shots at Ashton Gate but failed to score.
The Swede will have been buoyed by his players' efforts and should be confident of getting back to winning ways and tightening the grip on second place when Boro host Blackburn on Boxing Day.
Rovers may have beaten Millwall last time out but went five games without a victory before that and are underdogs heading to the Riverside.
Blackburn have a fine record away at Middlesbrough, unbeaten in 10 and last losing there during the festive period of 2012.
However, at this juncture, and with the hosts looking to push Coventry at the top of the table, it is unlikely Rovers will continue the run.
Despite Boro’s strengths, they have failed to keep a clean sheet in 11 games, therefore backing over 2.5 goals with a home win could prove a wise pick, with Middlesbrough’s last four home matches featuring three goals or more.
Four of Blackburn’s last five games have also featured both teams finding the net.
Back Middlesbrough to win and over 2.5 goals at 1.65/1 with LiveScore Bet
The latest Middlesbrough vs Blackburn odds are available on LiveScore Bet
