Preview: Middlesbrough, 29.09.09
All the important stats and facts in front of the game

THE CUNNING FOX, 27.09.2009

Team news

Leicester City
A very disapointing result against Preston, which also stopped our unbeaten record at home. The big surprise in front of the game against Preston, was the fact that central defender Jack Hobbs was dropped and a partnership of Tunchev and Brown prefered by Pearson. The midfield situation is also a bit unshure, with Wellens not 100 % fit and difficulties to find the right combination with Adams, Gallagher, N'Guessan and Dyer rotated in those positions.

Pearson has experimented with a number of combinations and he looks a bit unshure of what to do at the moment. This has also reflected on the team and results gained in the last four of five games.

TCF hopes that Pearson will find his best combination.  Howard must be dropped to the bench, replaced by Gallagher, who needs a proper chance to establish himself as Matty Fryatt's partner up front. Pearson has signed a goalscorer in Gallagher, why on earth he is just playing him out of position is a riddle to me.

Robbie Neilson is also a very uncertain choice on the right back position and the central defence is also a bit of a riddle with Brown, Hobbs and Tunchev all in contention for a place. Pearson needs to find his best 11 as soon as possible.

Here is TCF's prefered line-up

4-4-2
Weale - Neilson, Berner, Hobbs, Brown - Wellens, Oakley. N'Guessan, Dyer - Fryatt, Gallagher
Subs: Logan, King, Tunchev, Morrison, Howard, Adams

Latest news
City will not strengthen their team with any new loan players in front of next game on Tuesday, and things look ok, despite seeing the manager a bit unshure of which players to pick, Wellens fitness and the formation.

Middlesbrough
Gareth Southgate has a team of great talent. They are currently fourth in the table after an ok start. They played Coventry away on Saturday, and had a great 2-0 lead after the first half. They couldn't keep Coventry at distance and the Sky Blues managed to get back and secure a draw.

Several players have left Riverside this summer. Alves, Downing, Tuncay and Huth are all gone. Players such as Bates, Johnson, Wheater and Arca are great quality at this level.

Middlesbrough have 17 points from their first 9 games and are four in front of us. Our former fox Danny Coyne is in their squad and played the first 8 games, but was dropped to the bench for the Coventry game.

There has been a number of changes at Boro', with more than 20 players used in the first 9 games. Boro are weakened with the loss of Huth and Tuncay, who both played a part in the first games of the season, but Middlesbrough will be a handfull for City even without these two.

Middlesbrough came back after a shocking 5-0 defeat by WBA at home and must be regarded as one of the best teams in this division.

Probable Middlesbrough line-up
4-4-2
Jones - Hoyte, Bennett, Wheater, St Ledger - O'Neil, Johnson, Arca, Williams - Alidiere, Emnes

Latest news
Nigel Reo-Coker could be the next player to move to Middlesbrough. A loan deal from Aston Villa is under consideration and the player could be in the squad for the game against City on Tuesday.

Head to head
All the previous results, and statistics in games against Middlesbrough, enter here

Betting
Compare and find the best betting site for your betting here, enter here

Last meeting
Sat 17th of January 2004, Premier League, Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough 3 - Leicester City 3
City goals: Dickov 2, Bent
City line-up: Walker, Curtis, Dabizas, Scimeca, Davidson, Scowcroft, McKinlay (Gillespie), Stewart, Guppy, Dickov (Hignett), Bent (Ferdinand)

| Table | Form Table |

TCF prediction
The game is an open affair, with Middlesbrough a bit weakened after the sales of Tuncay and Huth. City played some fantastic football away to Watford, but couldn't keep on for two halfs. The way things have gone in the last couple of games TCF would look at a draw as a fantastic result, and hope are that we can manage that. 1-1 is the prediction, with Fryatt scoring City's goal in the first half giving us the lead that we will struggle to keep.

Last Fixtures
Leicester City, 26.09.09, (H), Preston, 1-2 (Defeat)
Middlesbrough, 26.09.09 (A), Coventry, 2-2 (Draw)

Next fixtures
Leicester City, 03.10.09 (A), Coventry
Middlesbrough, 03.10.09 (A) Reading

In both camps
Look up all our former players who also have been with Middlesbrough. Nicky Mohan, Brian Deane and Craig Hignett all comes to mind. Check the full list, enter here