Middlesbrough will have their eyes firmly on promotion as Norwich City come calling on Saturday.
Middlesbrough return to the Riverside Stadium on Saturday knowing they are fast becoming the Championship’s pace-setters, but Norwich City arrive with enough momentum of their own to ensure this is anything but routine.
Boro’s confidence will be sky-high after tearing Preston North End apart in a ruthless 4-0 display last time out, a result that underlined just how far they have come in a short space of time. Having fallen just short of the play-offs last season, promotion now feels like the baseline expectation rather than the ceiling.
The transition following Rob Edwards’s departure to Wolves in November could have destabilised their campaign, yet Kim Hellberg has overseen a seamless evolution. Middlesbrough head into the weekend second in the table with 55 points from 29 games, firmly embedded in the automatic promotion conversation. Their brief wobble over the festive period now feels distant; since then, Hellberg’s side have been relentless, winning four straight league matches and scoring 13 goals with an authority that few teams in the division can match.
What makes Middlesbrough particularly dangerous is their balance. The Riverside has been a fortress defensively, no Championship side has conceded fewer goals at home, yet it is their away consistency that has propelled them towards the summit, with Boro outperforming every other side on the road. That blend of control at home and confidence away from it is the hallmark of a genuine promotion contender.
Norwich City, meanwhile, travel north to take on Middlesbrough with renewed belief of their own. The Canaries looked in serious trouble earlier in the season after a 13-game winless run left them flirting with the relegation zone. A narrow win over QPR in November proved to be the turning point, and since then Philippe Clement has quietly engineered one of the league’s most impressive recoveries.
Currently 18th and four points clear of danger, Norwich are riding a wave of form that few would have predicted before Christmas. The Canaries have won their last four matches in all competitions, capped by a statement comeback victory over then-league leaders Coventry City at Carrow Road on Monday night. That result, in particular, spoke volumes about their resilience and growing tactical clarity.
Their away form adds another layer of intrigue. Norwich are unbeaten in their last five Championship trips and have won their most recent three on the road, scoring nine goals in the process. That run suggests they are no longer content to sit deep and survive away from home, they are actively imposing themselves.
History offers little to separate the sides. Middlesbrough edged the reverse fixture 2-1 in August thanks to first-half strikes from Finn Azaz and Tommy Conway, while last season’s meeting at the Riverside ended in a goalless stalemate. Norwich’s last win on Teesside dates back to November 2020, when Teemu Pukki converted from the spot, but this current Canaries side looks far more robust than league position alone suggests. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how the clubs could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough’s preparations for Saturday’s clash have been eased by positive updates on the fitness front. Both Matthew Targett and Adilson Malanda were forced off during the emphatic win over Preston North End, but neither withdrawal is believed to be serious. The pair are expected to be assessed closer to kick-off and remain in contention to feature at the Riverside.
However, Alfie Jones and Darragh Lenihan remain long-term absentees as they continue their recovery from significant injuries, while Alex Bangura is set to miss at least another month due to an ongoing muscle problem. In attack, uncertainty remains over the availability of Kaly Sene and David Strelec, both of whom have missed recent matchday squads and will need late fitness clearance to be considered.
There are no suspension concerns for Kim Hellberg, and the squad has also been boosted by the arrival of Jeremy Sarmiento, who joined from Brighton & Hove Albion on an initial loan deal earlier this week. The Ecuador international could be involved immediately, depending on his match readiness.
From a tactical perspective, Middlesbrough are expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation, a system that has underpinned their recent surge in form. Sol Brynn is likely to continue in goal, providing a calm presence behind a settled defensive unit. The back four should see Luke Ayling at right-back, with Adilson Malanda partnering Dael Fry in central defence, while Matt Targett offers balance and experience from left-back.
In midfield, Alan Browne is expected to anchor the side, allowing Hayden Hackney and Aidan Morris to operate as advanced central midfielders, combining ball progression with pressing intensity. The front three is likely to feature Morgan Whittaker on the right wing and Tommy Conway leading the line as the central striker, with Leo Castledine providing creativity and movement from the left. This setup allows Middlesbrough to stretch the pitch, press aggressively in advanced areas, and overload opponents in midfield during sustained spells of possession.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Brynn; Ayling, Malanda, Fry, Targett; Morris, Browne, Hackney; Whittaker, Conway, Castledine
Norwich City
Norwich City continue to manage a lengthy injury list as they prepare for the trip to the Riverside. Ante Crnac and Mirko Topic have both been ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering anterior cruciate ligament injuries, a significant blow to the Canaries’ depth. Gabriel Forsyth also remains unavailable after undergoing knee surgery in September and is still working his way back to full fitness.
Further forward, Jeffrey Schlupp has not featured since November due to a serious hamstring problem, while the same issue continues to sideline Forson Amankwah, limiting Philippe Clement’s options in wide and midfield areas. At the back, Shane Duffy remains absent after picking up a muscle injury in December, and his return is not considered imminent. Clement is also expected to be without Pelle Mattsson for the coming fixtures, with the Danish midfielder forced off at half-time against Coventry City after sustaining an ankle injury. There are no reported suspension concerns for Norwich ahead of this weekend’s contest.
Tactically, Norwich are likely to set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, a shape that has provided defensive stability while allowing flexibility in transition. Vladan Kovacevic is expected to start in goal, offering a commanding presence behind the defensive line. The back four should consist of Kellen Fisher at right-back, Ruairi McConville partnering Jose Cordoba in central defence, and Ben Chrisene operating from left-back.
In midfield, Kenny McLean is likely to be deployed alongside Jacob Wright in the double pivot, with McLean providing leadership and positional discipline while Wright offers energy and ball progression. Ahead of them, Tony Springett is expected to operate on the right flank, Anis Ben Slimane in the central attacking midfield role, and Ali Ahmed on the left, tasked with linking play and supporting attacks. Leading the line, Jovon Makama is set to spearhead the attack as the lone striker, using his physicality and movement to stretch Middlesbrough’s back line.
bable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kovacevic; Fisher, McConville, Cordoba, Chrisene; Wright, McLean; Springett, Slimane, Ahmed; Makama
Key Stats
- Middlesbrough are unbeaten in their last six Championship home matches, conceding fewer goals at the Riverside Stadium than any other side in the division this season.
- Norwich City have won three consecutive away league games, scoring nine goals in that run, which already matches their total from the first 10 away fixtures combined.
- Middlesbrough have scored 13 goals across their last four league matches, the highest tally in the Championship over that period.
- Norwich have lost just one of their last five Championship away games.
- The reverse fixture ended in a 2-1 win for Middlesbrough, with Boro scoring both goals before half-time and limiting Norwich to a single shot on target after the break.
Player to Watch
Hayden Hackney
Hayden Hackney has become one of the defining figures in Middlesbrough’s push towards the top end of the Championship, and Saturday’s contest offers another platform for the midfielder to assert his growing influence. Trusted by Kim Hellberg in the heart of the pitch, Hackney operates as the connective tissue between defence and attack, dictating tempo and ensuring Boro remain progressive rather than predictable.
What sets Hackney apart is his intelligence without the ball as much as his quality on it. He times his pressing well, recovers possession in advanced areas, and consistently positions himself to receive under pressure. Against a Norwich side likely to sit compact and look to counter, his ability to circulate play quickly and break lines with vertical passing could prove decisive.
Hackney’s discipline also allows Middlesbrough’s more attacking players the freedom to push higher up the pitch, knowing there is control behind them. If Boro dominate possession as expected, much of that will stem from Hackney’s composure and decision-making in midfield. How effectively Norwich can limit his influence may well determine whether this becomes a comfortable home win or a far tighter battle than the league table suggests.
Prediction
Middlesbrough 2-1 Norwich City
Middlesbrough head into this fixture with momentum, confidence, and a tactical clarity that is hard to ignore, particularly at the Riverside Stadium. Their recent attacking output has been relentless, while their defensive structure at home continues to provide a solid platform. With Hayden Hackney controlling midfield and the front three in strong form, Boro should be able to dictate both tempo and territory.
Norwich Citys resurgence under Philippe Clement means they cannot be dismissed lightly. Their improved away record and willingness to play on the front foot should ensure they remain competitive for long stretches, but the number of absentees particularly in defence and midfield, may eventually tell against a side as well-drilled as Middlesbrough.
If Norwich City can stay compact and frustrate early, they may find moments on the counter, but over 90 minutes Middlesbrough’s control and depth should give them the edge.
