Stoke are on a four-match unbeaten run
Middlesbrough have lost only four of their 14 Championship away games
Recommended Bet: Draw
The midweek Championship programme is rounded off by an 8pm kick-off between Stoke and Middlesbrough on Wednesday evening and a tight game is likely, with both promotion contenders in solid form.
The home side have kept four successive clean sheets, so will be no pushovers for Boro, who went into the latest round of fixtures in second place, six points behind leaders Coventry.
Boro have won their last two league games, 4-0 at home to Southampton and 3-2 at West Brom in a Friday night thriller.
The latest Stoke vs Middlesbrough odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Team news
Stoke are short of forwards after Manchester City loanee Divin Mubama was injured in Saturday's goalless draw with QPR.
The Potters are still without first-choice goalkeeper Viktor Johansson due to a shoulder injury, so loanee Gavin Bazuna will continue between the sticks.
Defender Junior Tchamadeu is out with a knee injury sustained at the Africa Cup of Nations and midfielder Lewis Baker (ankle) has been out of action since November.
David Strelec (ankle), Kaly Sene and Riley McGree all missed Middlesbrough's game at West Brom, but loan defender Matt Targett is still with the club despite reports that he could be recalled by parent club Newcastle.
The stats
Stoke have conceded only 10 goals in 13 home league games, while Middlesbrough have conceded in each of their last nine away matches.
Boro's last three matches have all produced four or more goals.
Stoke have kept four successive clean sheets and both teams have scored in only one of their last seven games.
Both teams have scored in just one of the teams' last six meetings.
The latest Stoke vs Middlesbrough odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
The first league meeting between Stoke and Middlesbrough this season was a goalless draw at the Riverside in September and another evenly-contested game between the teams looks likely on Wednesday.
Boro have realistic hopes of returning to the Premier League after a nine-year absence and they appear to have successfully come through a shaky spell over the holiday period by securing wins in tricky games against Southampton and West Brom either side of a creditable FA Cup performance against top-flight Fulham, where they led 1-0 for half an hour in a 3-1 defeat.
A trip to Stoke represents another difficult challenge, but while the Potters are rock-solid at the back, they have scored more than one goal in only one of their last seven matches.
Boro have been strong in away games this season, with only leaders Coventry faring better on the road, but they may have to settle for a point from this encounter, with a 0-0 or 1-1 scoreline looking a realistic outcome.
