Middlesbrough

Image source, Opta

Middlesbrough will seek to get back to winning ways after a mini-wobble as they welcome free-scoring Birmingham to The Riverside on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Boro are three Championship games without a win and have fallen out of the automatic promotion places to third, following a 1-1 draw at home to Wrexham with a 3-0 capitulation at Watford last Saturday and then salvaging a last-ditch 1-1 draw at Leicester on Tuesday night.

Birmingham are up to ninth, only two points outside the play-off places, after back-to-back 4-0 home wins, over Portsmouth last Saturday and against previously unbeaten travellers Millwall on Tuesday.

Chris Davies' side have however taken only four points from their past six on the road, losing four of those games without scoring.

• Middlesbrough have won their past five league games against Birmingham; their longest ever winning streak against them in league action. They've also kept a clean sheet in four of those five victories, conceding just one goal overall.

• The last two times Middlesbrough have hosted Birmingham in league competition have ended in 1-0 victories for Boro (October 2022 and October 2023). Blues have failed to score in six of their last nine away league matches at the Riverside Stadium.

• Middlesbrough are unbeaten in their past eight home league matches (W5 D3), and haven't conceded more than once in any of their past 13 matches at the Riverside in the Championship (since a 3-2 defeat to Sunderland in February).

• Birmingham City have won three of their past four league games (L1), as many as they managed across their first 10 this season (W3 D3 L4) – the Blues last won three Championship matches in a row in August 2023.

• Middlesbrough have scored three goals from the 80th minute onwards to earn a draw in the Championship this season, their most such goals in a season since 2018-19 (also 3).

Image source, Shutterstock

Middlesbrough have cancelled their pre-match press conference with head coach Rob Edwards.

He was due to face the media at 13:00 GMT ahead of Boro's home game with Birmingham City on Saturday but that will now not take place.

BBC Tees also reports that Edwards did not take training at the club's Rockliffe Park base on Friday morning.

The 42-year-old is a leading candidate for the vacant post at Wolverhampton Wanderers and on Thursday the Teessiders rejected the Premier League club's approach to speak to him.

Since replacing Michael Carrick at Boro in the summer, Edwards has led the side to third with just two defeats in their opening 14 Championship games.

Middlesbrough defender Luke Ayling says Tuesday's hard-fought Championship draw at Leicester feels "like a win".

Ayling rose highest in the sixth minute of added time to rescue a point for Boro, who had been reduced to 10 men moments earlier with Alfie Jones being dismissed.

The defender told BBC Radio Tees: "We go away from that feeling like it's a win, we know we did enough to probably win the game.

"We felt like we were on top for most of the game, and then we give away another sloppy goal which has been a theme of our last few games.

"When we go down to 10 men and we come back and score a late goal, it's a great feeling, the dressing room is buzzing - it's a point, we wanted three, but we take it."

Ayling's equaliser was his first goal for the club, indeed his first since scoring for former side Leeds back in August 2023.

"It felt like the ball was up in the air for a while and I could see it was coming to the back stick," added the 34-year-old, who has featured in every league game for Boro so far this season.

"I knew if I timed my jump I could probably get on the back of the defender, I headed it and it felt like it took forever to go in, it was in slow motion, but when it hit the back of the net it's always a great feeling."

Listen to the full interview and more Boro content on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Getty Images

Middlesbrough head coach Rob Edwards says he was thrilled with his side's "never say die" attitude as Luke Ayling's 96th-minute header rescued a draw away to Leicester City.

But the frustration came from the fact that Boro only claimed a point from a match in which they had more possession, more shots and shots on target, more corners and more touches in the opposition box than the Foxes.

"It feels like a win because of how it happened, but it should have been a win," Edwards told BBC Radio Tees. "The performance justified a win."

The draw sees Boro slip out of the top two and they are now one point behind Stoke City, but Edwards was happy with how side played three days after their 3-0 loss at Watford.

"We've dominated the game, so that was a really pleasing performance," he said. "That was a great reaction to a disappointment on Saturday.

"We've reacted really well and any time we've been defeated this season, we've responded with a good performance and a good result. And we've done it again."

Leicester will be seeking to get their promotion hopes back on track on Tuesday (19:45 GMT) when they welcome Middlesbrough to the King Power Stadium.

The Foxes have now lost their past three games in the league, and have registered just one win in five - they are 14th in the Championship.

Meanwhile, automatic promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough suffered a blow last time out, when Watford put three past them in just Boro's second loss of the season.

• Leicester went on a 14-game unbeaten run in the league against Middlesbrough between 2003 and 2017 (W6 D8), but Boro did the double over them in the 2023-24 campaign when the teams last met.

• Middlesbrough beat Leicester 2-1 in their most recent visit to the King Power Stadium in February 2024, but have not won consecutive league visits to the Foxes since 2000-01 and 2001-02 in the Premier League.

• Leicester are winless in their past six midweek (Tue/Wed/Thu) league games (D1 L5), since winning 3-1 at home to West Ham United in December 2024.

• Middlesbrough have won just two of their past 20 away league games against opponents that were relegated from the Premier League the season prior, beating Norwich in November 2022 and Leicester in February 2024 (D8 L10).

• Leicester manager Marti Cifuentes has lost all three of his league meetings with Middlesbrough - but has won both of his two meetings with Boro boss Rob Edwards, doing the double over his Luton side with QPR last season (2-1 both home and away), after the second of which Edwards stepped down from his role with the Hatters.

Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards says his side has "reacted well" to Saturday's 3-0 away defeat against Watford.

Boro suffered only their second league defeat of the campaign at the hands of Edwards' former club.

"It was frustrating to lose the game," Edwards told BBC Radio Tees.

"You can dissect the life out of it and look at every second, but the bottom line is we have to be a little bit better in a couple of areas in the top end, and for the first time this season we have not defended certain areas as well as we have done.

"We have had a good couple of days since then. We had a good recovery day yesterday and a productive meeting to see where we can improve.

"There has been a good reaction mentality wise and that is what there needs to be.

"The lads are a really honest group and they are going to make mistakes at times, but what we have just done is gain clarity over certain situations."

Middlesbrough return to action with a trip to Leicester on Tuesday (19:45 GMT).

"They have got really good players, especially for this level and I think they've been unlucky at times," Edwards added.

"They can dominate a game and make you sit back, so we are going to have to be really disciplined."

Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards said his promotion-chasing side learnt a harsh lesson in their 3-0 loss at Watford.

Edwards felt his Boro players were caught on the counter-attack by Watford on his return to his former club.

"It's a really disappointing result," he told BBC Radio Tees.

"I was actually really excited about this game and I thought we started well. It was about managing those moments and the biggest part of our message to the boys, as soon as we lose it, make sure we manage their counter-attacks and stop them switching it because they have pace in the wide areas, and we didn't do that.

"There was not loads and loads wrong, and we got into areas loads of times, but didn't make it count. At both ends of the pitch, we were second best. We'll all learn from this."

Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards is expecting a tough challenge from former club Watford as he prepares to make his first return to Vicarage Road.

Edwards was sacked by the Hornets in September 2022 after just 139 days and 10 Championship games in charge.

He faced Watford twice as Luton manager but both were at home and Edwards told BBC Radio Tees: "It'll be a nice experience, a new one to be going back.

"I wasn't there that long and it was a while ago now. It is, and has to be, just another game for me.

"You learn from every experience, good and bad. It was frustrating it was such a short spell, but it was probably the right thing for me and the club. I took a lot from it."

Watford have picked up 13 points from six home games and Edwards added: "They are very strong and Javi Gracia has gone back in there, an experienced and a very good coach, we're expecting a really challenging game, a difficult one for us."

Boro remain second in the Championship, three points behind leaders Coventry, but have scored only 16 goals across their opening 12 matches, 18 fewer than the Sky Blues.

Those goals have been shared among 11 players, with none scoring more than twice.

"There are a lot of additions across the league that are taking time to adapt to the league, at various clubs, some that are firing have maybe been in the league for a few years," said Edwards.

"We have to be patient and let lads settle in to a new country and environment, that's important.

"We created a lot of chances against Ipswich and Sheffield Wednesday and the second half intensity was brilliant against Wrexham.

"What Coventry are doing right now is not normal and there are only one or two others who have outscored us. Give us time and I'm sure things will click."

Riley McGree is set to feature against Watford but Alex Bangura misses out with illness.

Click here for the full interview with Edwards and more Middlesbrough content via BBC Sounds.

Image source, PA Media

Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards says he has no concerns about his strikeforce in the Championship this season.

Boro go into this weekend's match with Edwards' previous side Watford in second place in the table.

They have scored 16 goals in 12 games - fewer than half the 34 hit by leaders Coventry - and no player has more than two goals in the league.

Coventry's Haji Wright and Brandon Thomas-Asante already have 17 league goals between them while Boro striker David Strelec has not scored in seven games for club and country.

Edwards told BBC Radio Tees: "Across the board there are a lot of new additions who have taken time to adapt and some who are firing have been in the league a few seasons.

"We have to be patient and allow lads to settle into a new country. We are always going to want more but we created a lot of chances last week. I am not too concerned. It always takes time.

"Coventry are doing what they are doing and so we will be compared to them but what they are doing is not normal.

"After that there are only a few teams who have outscored us and we have a good balance. Give us more time and I am sure things will improve."

Middlesbrough will seek to get back to winning ways as they head to Watford on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Boro made hard work of a 1-1 draw against Wrexham at the Riverside last time out to fall three points behind Coventry, who overcame the 10-man Hornets 3-1 on the same afternoon.

Rob Edwards' side have claimed 11 points from their six away games this season, though their only defeat in their opening 12 games came on the road at Portsmouth.

Javi Gracia's men sit in 14th but have taken 13 points from their six home games and have won the past three at Vicarage Road, all by a 2-1 scoreline.

• Watford have won each of their past two league games against Middlesbrough and will be looking to win three in succession versus Boro for the first time in their EFL history.

• This century, Middlesbrough have won just two of their 12 away league games against Watford (D2 L8), losing on three of their past four visits to Vicarage Road.

• Watford have won 11 points from losing positions in the Championship so far this season, the most of any side in the competition.

• Excluding own goals, Middlesbrough have had the most different goalscorers so far in the 2025-26 Championship campaign (11).

• Watford remain the only Championship side without a clean sheet this season after 12 matches – it is the furthest the Hornets have ever gone into a second-tier campaign without keeping one.

"If he just plays the same players week in, week out, he [Boro boss Rob Edwards] says they will just break, so he has to mix it up. But that's difficult when you are trying to get attacking players in a rhythm and trying to get them to find form.

"Tommy Conway needs a goal, David Strelec needs a goal, Kaly Sene needs a goal - you are just waiting for one of them to take off and they will."

The Northern Echo's Dom Shaw and the Gazette's Craig Johns discuss the attacking conundrum at Middlesbrough.

Listen to the full analysis and more Middlesbrough content on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Rex Features

Former Middlesbrough full-back and BBC 72+ EFL pundit Tommy Smith has been named as Boro's new loans manager.

The 33-year-old, who also played for Huddersfield and Stoke over a 10-year playing career, retired earlier this year after sustaining a ruptured Achilles playing for Boro in October 2023.

His new role at the Riverside will see Smith maintain contact with players out on loan and their clubs to help their development.

"I'm absolutely delighted," he told the club website., external "It's a fantastic football club and I've really felt a part of it since I arrived as a player, so I'm over the moon to be carrying on, albeit in a slightly different role.

"I'm really grateful to the club for how they've been with me through the last two years. The support I've had through the injury and the retirement is something I'll be eternally grateful for.

"The role is all about getting the best out of the players who are out on loan. I'll be able to watch them train and play, be in regular contact and ultimately try to give them the best opportunity to come back and make a difference to Middlesbrough."

"I think first half that's as bad as I've seen us this season. In terms of intensity, all of those words we mentioned that Rob Edward's wants his team to have, they didn't have."

Listen to the post-match analysis from Matty Nixon, Neil Maddison and Dana Malt after Middlesbrough's 1-1 draw with Wrexham.

Hear the thoughts of boss Rob Edward's and defender Callum Brittain with Boro now three points behind leaders Coventry City.

Listen to the full episode and more on BBC Sounds.

Middlesbrough defender Callum Brittain says his team "must take the positives" despite dropping points at home to Wrexham on Saturday.

The 1-1 draw with the Red Dragons saw a three-point gap open up between Boro and leaders Coventry City after their 3-1 victory over Watford.

Brittain provided the assist for Hayden Hackney's equaliser but insisted the team made too many mistakes in the first half.

"I think we need to give ourselves credit for getting back into the game but we can't start games like that," he told BBC Radio Humberside.

"We were letting the opposition come onto us, we were making too many mistakes, but you have to take the positives from it, we're still unbeaten at home.

"We showed character second half, that's the main thing. We've got to make this place a fortress, we have to make it hard for other teams to come here.

"We definitely feed off the crowd, I though they were amazing today."

Boro travel to face Watford on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds.

Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards said he has received an apology from PGMOL after referee Thomas Kirk did not award Tommy Conway a penalty kick during their 1-0 win against Sheffield Wednesday.

The forward was brought down following a heavy challenge from Owls goalkeeper Joe Lumley, however, Kirk waved away any penalty appeals.

"I've had a conversation with [the referee manager in the Championship] Kevin Friend on it, and it was a really good, open honest one, and they realised it should have been a penalty," Edwards told BBC Radio Tees.

"You can accept it now because no real harm was done. People are human beings, they can make mistakes, but I just felt like that was a clear one."

Boro meet Wrexham on Saturday (15:00 BST), with the potential to top the league should Coventry City falter in their lunchtime fixture against Watford.

The Red Dragons have enjoyed three successive promotions under current boss Phil Parkinson, and while the Welsh side have not yet emerged as contenders to make it a fourth, Edwards has plenty to admire about the club.

"What Phil has done, I'm not sure anyone has done that. It's incredible what he's done from a managerial point of view," Edwards said.

"It's pretty special what they've achieved there."

Listen to the full interview with Edwards and more Middlesbrough content on BBC Sounds.