Ipswich have drawn four of eight Championship matches this season
Middlesbrough have gone three games without a victory
Recommended bet: Draw
Early pace-setters Middlesbrough were knocked off the Championship summit on matchday nine but they have an opportunity to get back on top when taking on resurgent Ipswich Town at the Riverside Stadium.
Under Rob Edwards, Boro have been one of the second tier’s surprise packages, but their standards have slipped in recent times with only two points taken from the last three fixtures.
Boro signed off for the international break on a sour note with a disappointing 1-0 defeat away to Portsmouth, but they will be hoping for a return to form against one of the division’s most fancied teams.
Ipswich seemed to suffer from a relegation hangover as they mustered just three points from their opening four fixtures.
But the Tractor Boys have taken 10 points from their last four fixtures and are heading to the north east with confidence after a 3-1 triumph at home to Norwich in the East Anglian derby.
The latest Middlesbrough vs Ipswich odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Team news
Boro are still short of centre-back options with Darragh Lenihan (Achilles) and George Edmundson (hamstring) on the sidelines.
Riley McGree has been back on the training field but Seny Dieng (Achilles) is a long-term absentee.
Wes Burns, Conor Townsend and Harry Clarke (all knee) continue to face long spells on the sidelines for Ipswich, but Cameron Humphreys (calf) has featured in an Under-21's fixture and is pushing for a return to the squad.
Kieran McKenna may stick with a settled side as he looks to extend a five-game unbeaten run.
The stats
Middlesbrough have kept clean sheets in three of their four Championship home games.
The Teessiders are unbeaten in six second tier home fixtures.
Five of Boro’s last seven home league matches have generated less than three goals.
Ipswich have gone eight away games without winning.
The Tractor Boys have been involved in three 1-1 draws on their last four road trips.
Ipswich have started the scoring in four of their last five matches.
The latest Middlesbrough vs Ipswich odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
The international break probably came at a good time for Middlesbrough, who can respond to a dip in form by sharing the points with in-form Ipswich.
Under their previous manager, Michael Carrick, Boro had gained a reputation for being an attractive team with a soft underbelly.
They have transitioned to being a more pragmatic side under Edwards and will be aware of the need to deny time and space to Ipswich, who possess some of the more talented attacking players in the division.
Ipswich showed their quality in recent wins at home to Sheffield United (5-0) and Norwich (3-1), but they haven’t triumphed on their travels since early April when winning 2-1 at Bournemouth.
The Tractor Boys are growing into the season, but they aren’t the finished article and could be held this weekend.
Back the draw at 43/20 with LiveScore Bet
The latest Middlesbrough vs Ipswich odds are available on LiveScore Bet
