How we expect Middlesbrough to line-up against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park this weekend
Hayden Hackney, head coach Kim Hellberg, Matt Targett and Goalkeeper Sol Brynn look dejected(Image: Greig Cowie/Shutterstock)
Middlesbrough will be hoping to get back to winning ways this weekend when they travel to Blackburn Rovers – but they’ll have to do so without star man Hayden Hackney.
The midfielder picked up a calf injury that forced him off in last weekend’s draw with Bristol City – which was a fourth straight game at the Riverside without a win. He will miss the trip to Ewood Park.
That leaves Hellberg needing to find alternative options to replace Boro’s star man, as they aim to consolidate their position in the automatic promotion spots heading into the final international break of the season. Here’s how we predict they’ll line-up.
GK – Sol Brynn – Providing he avoids injury between now and the end of the season, it’s the easiest of the selection predictions to make. Brynn is firmly cemented as Boro’s number one this term.
CB – Luke Ayling – Heading to Blackburn, we’re predicting a change in formation for Boro, to match the 3-4-3 that the hosts have played under Michael O’Neill. Boro will believe they can match Rovers man for man.
CB – Dael Fry – That would mean a return to the starting line-up for Fry, who is back in full training after a short-term injury. Interestingly, when asked about how you replace a player as important as Hackney, Hellberg noted two things that Boro can get from other players. One of them was aerial presence. Fry is this side’s big aerial threat.
CB – Adilson Malanda – After a little wobble, Malanda has returned to form, beyond not really dealing with the late Bristol City corner as well as he might have done. For his height, Malanda could be a bigger threat from attacking set-pieces too. Though, in his defence, it’s often the delivery that lets them down.
RWB – Callum Brittain – As was the case at Birmingham, playing with three centre-backs meant Boro got natural width from their wing-backs, who were given even more freedom to attack. It was Targett who profited on that occasion, but Brittain clearly enjoys that side of the game too.
CM – Aidan Morris – He’s in great form right now and could have even more significance for Boro for however long they’re without Hackney. If his shooting against Bristol City was anything to go by, he might even be getting closer to that first Boro goal.
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CM – Riley McGree – The second example Hellberg noted about getting by without Hackney is that they have players who are better with their left foot. Was that a hint that McGree could return to his original Boro position to replace Hackney in midfield. In terms of offering what Hackney does, McGree feels like the most like-for-like replacement.
LWB – Matt Targett – As noted above, Targett was the big beneficiary the last time Boro played with a back three at Birmingham. He scored two goals that evening, with Birmingham defenders too focused on Boro’s natural attacking players, offering space to get in behind from wide areas while unmarked.
RF – Jeremy Sarmiento – Sarmiento continues to try and play his way into form since arriving at Boro after limited game-time in the first half of the season. He’s still trying to build connections with team-mates, and games will ultimately help with that. His flexibility within a forward line will benefit Boro for this one too, with their actual shape likely dependent on how Blackburn approach it.
CF – David Strelec – Though he missed a huge chance against Bristol City, his overall contribution was positive and there are increasing signs that the Slovakian is starting to get more accustomed to the English game. It would benefit him to have a run.
LF – Tommy Conway – Discussing his strikers ahead of the game, it was interesting that Hellberg noted he doesn’t see Conway as a conventional 9. When teams play a high line, he is good through the middle, running in behind. But when teams are low, as Blackburn will be expected to do, Conway is better from the left. His movement against Birmingham, as he peeled left, was key to causing the distraction that gifted Targett so much free space.
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