Middlesbrough vs Preston Prediction: Boro to battle through

Both Middlesbrough and Preston found themselves on the wrong end of the result on Saturday and will be aiming to bounce back at the Riverside on Tuesday evening.

Boro, 12th in the Championship, four points and six places adrift of the Lilywhites, failed to kick on from recovering from a two-goal deficit to lose 3-2 at Bristol City. Meanwhile, Robbie Brady's dismissal cost Preston as Cardiff scored twice in stoppage time to win 2-1 at Deepdale.

There have been five or more goals in three of Boro's last four games. However, the odd one out was a 1-0 home win over Leicester and with Michael Carrick's side keeping clean sheets in three of their last four at the Riverside, they could sneak another victory.

Match Odds

Middlesbrough are 8/13 to win, with the draw 3/1 and PNE available at 4/1.

A repeat of last season's 4-0 win for Boro in this fixture is 25/1, while a 'No' in Both Teams to Score, which has landed the home side's last four games at the Riverside, is 10/11.

Team News

Riley McGree (foot) and Marcus Forss (thigh) will miss out for Boro, while Lukas Engel is a doubt with an ankle issue. Darragh Lenihan and Tommy Smith (both ankle) are out for the season, while Lewis O'Brien (ankle) is another long-term absentee.

For Preston, Brady will miss the game after picking up two yellow cards against Cardiff but defender Andrew Hughes could make his first start since September after coming off the bench on Saturday following a hamstring injury.

Calvin Ramsay (knee) and Jack Whatmough (hamstring) were also included among the replacements at the weekend and will hope to feature. Liam Millar faces a fitness test on an ankle issue but Emil Riis remains sidelined with a long-term knee injury.

Middlesbrough to win to nil @ 7/4

After a tough start to the season, Boro's steady improvement has been built on their decent home results, winning four of their last five and keeping three clean sheets in the process.

Preston won their last away game 2-1 at Blackburn but had failed to win in four on the road before that. Boss Ryan Lowe may look to rotate for this game, with his side back in action on Friday against QPR.

The hosts are next in action away at Leeds and another battling win would set them up nicely for their tip to Elland Road on Saturday.

#PickYourPunt - Jonny Howson and Duane Holmes to be carded @ 13/2

A cagey encounter could lead to fiery challenges and neither Howson nor Holmes are strangers to the referee's notebook. All three of Howson's yellow cards this season have come at the Riverside, most recently in the win over Leicester and he was also booked in last term's 2-1 defeat at Deepdale.

Meanwhile, Holmes has received four yellow cards in this season's Championship and they combine for a decent piece when both backed to be carded on Tuesday.