Middlesbrough are currently three points off the top six as they prepare for the Championship restart on Saturday after the last international break of the season.
Results picked up for Boro before the break, even if performances weren’t convincing. So what does the run-in look like? What are the obstacles and opportunities along the way? How many points will they pick up? And will it be enough?
Oxford (H) – Saturday, March 29, 3pm
If Boro are to accumulate the points required to finish in the top six this season, this is surely a must win.
Oxford have had a decent first season back in the Championship and the decision to sack Des Buckingham, which looked harsh at the time, has paid off, with Gary Rowett keeping the U’s away from the bottom three.
They still have a four-point gap on the relegation zone but they’ve struggled on their travels this season, winning just one game away from home.
Only 10 of their 42 points this season have come on the road.
Prediction: 2-0 Boro
Blackburn (A) – Friday, April 4, 8pm
Top six contenders for so long this season but Blackburn’s campaign looks to be petering out.
Things haven’t gone to plan since the exit of boss John Eustace, and although Rovers are still just five points outside the top six, they’ve lost their three games and have picked up just one point from their last five.
Valerien Ismael has endured a tough start. They’re away to Portsmouth on Saturday. Another defeat there could spell the end of Blackburn’s top six hopes this season. It could well be a good time for Boro to be heading to Ewood.
Prediction: 2-1 Boro
Leeds (H) – Tuesday, April 8, 8pm
Are Leeds wobbling? Daniel Farke’s side remain top of the league but since their hugely impressive victory at Sheffield United they’ve won just one of their last four. The gap to third-placed Burnley is just two points.
They’re at home to Swansea this weekend, a fixture they will surely win and three points will help to ease any understandable anxiety. It was around this time last season when Farke’s side started to make a mess of things.
The only win in their last six games last season came at the Riverside. Leeds are the top scorers in the division by a long way and only one team in the top 10 have conceded more goals than Boro.
Prediction: 2-1 Leeds
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Millwall (A) – Saturday, April 12, 3pm
Millwall are just about clinging on to their hopes of a place in the play-offs. The Lions are six points off the top six after signing off for the international break with a last gasp win over Stoke City thanks to a penalty won by Josh Coburn.
Millwall have only lost two in seven since their surprise hammering at Plymouth but there’s very little room for error if they’re to launch a surprise late push and force their way into the top six. They’re at Sunderland on Saturday.
Millwall’s home form has been sketchy this season – eight wins and seven defeats – but a trip to The Den is not the type of test Boro have passed this season.
Prediction: 1-0 Millwall.
Plymouth (H) – Friday, April 18, 3pm
Plymouth are six points adrift of safety and their survival prospects are bleak. If things don’t go to plan in the next few weeks for Argyle, they could well be all but relegated by the time they head for Boro.
The Pilgrims have the worst away record in the league, having won just one and lost 13 of their 19 Championship games on the road.
Boro’s 3-3 draw at Home Park in December was one of several big opportunities missed this season.
Prediction: 3-0 Boro
Sheffield Wednesday (A) – Monday. April 21, 3pm
Sheffield Wednesday have faltered at a bad time and four defeats in their last six, including a 1-0 loss in the Steel City derby last time out, have left Danny Rohl’s side clinging on to their top six hopes.
The Owls are now six points adrift of the top six, though four of their next five games prior to the visit of Boro are all against sides in the bottom half.
If they don’t take advantage of that spell they’ll be out of contention by the time they face Boro.
Prediction: 1-1
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Norwich (H) – Saturday, April 26, 3pm
Norwich’s defeat at Bristol City before the international break surely brought an end to their play-off hopes this season.
The Canaries have won just one of their last eight and are now in the bottom half and eight points adrift of the top six. And three of their next four games are against sides currently in the top six.
Unless Johannes Hoff Thorup’s side go on the most unlikely charge, they’ll be playing for very little when they head to the Riverside on the penultimate weekend of the season. And their away form hasn’t been great this season. They’ve won just four of their 19 games on their travels.
Prediction: 2-1 Boro
Coventry (A) – Saturday, May 3, 12.30pm
And so it ends with Coventry. Again.
The Sky Blues are the form team in the division over the course of the last six and 10 games, picking up 24 points from the last 30 available. And they signed off for the international break with a 3-0 thumping of Sunderland, another statement win.
Is Boro’s best hope that Coventry continue their recent form? If so, they’ll have secured a play-off place long before the final day. It might work in Boro’s favour if Frank Lampard’s side don’t need a result.
Prediction: 1-1.
Points total: 68: Sunderland are the only team in the last 10 seasons to have reached the play-offs having failed to reach 70 points. Would 68 or 69 be enough this year? Can Boro squeeze out a couple more points to help get them over the line?
