Match Preview
Middlesbrough
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Fulham
Championship Match Day 11 1516 at Riverside Stadium
Saturday 17th October 2015 KO: 15:00
Ref: Peter Bankes (Merseyside)
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Second-placed Middlesbrough will be looking to get back to winning ways when they host Fulham in the Championship this weekend, having lost their first match in six outings before the international break.
The Cottagers come into this match having picked up just one victory from their last four outings through, leaving them six points outside the playoff places.
Kit Symons's team are looking for their first win in three matches when they travel to the Riverside this weekend, having been beaten by Wolverhampton Wanderers and draw with Charlton Athletic just before the international break.
Fulham are six points behind Burnley, who occupy the final spot in the playoffs, and eight points of the second automatic promotion spot currently occupied by Boro.
The manager will be keen to close the gap to the top six, with reports suggesting that he is under pressure coming into this fixture, with the club's board keen to secure promotion this season.
There has also been talk of Moussa Dembele leaving the club in the January transfer window, with Everton continuing to be linked with the 19-year-old after failing to sign the striker over the summer, but the club are thought to be close to offering him a new deal.
While the Cottagers have the same goal-scoring record as this weekend's opponents, they have not been as strong at the back, keeping just one clean sheet in their first 10 fixtures, while letting in 16 goals.
Ross McCormack has been in strong goal-scoring form in recent weeks, scoring four goals in the team's last five matches in the division.
The Scot has seven goals in all competitions for Fulham so far this season, making him the club's top scorer.
Aitor Karanka's side sit just two points behind Brighton & Hove Albion coming into this match, having lost just twice in the Championship so far this season.
Boro had been on a five-match winning streak just before the international period, but were beaten by Reading at the Madejski Stadium in their last outing. Despite the team sitting in the automatic promotion places, the manager has been playing down his side's form at the start of the season, insisting that they must not get carried away.
The team have the joint-best defence in the division so far this season, having conceded just seven goals while keeping four clean sheets.
Along with this weekend's opponents, Boro also have the second-best attack, netting 17 goals in the Championship, with only Queens Park Rangers, who have the worst defence, having scored more.
With a League Cup match away at Manchester United coming up later this month, this fixture starts a run of five matches in 15 days for Karanka's squad.
Opposition
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Middlesbrough have won just one of their last four matches against Fulham, losing 4-3 when the sides met at Craven Cottage back in April.
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However, Fulham have only won once at the Riverside in 12 previous visits to Middlesbrough's ground.
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In 24 meetings between the two sides there has been little to separate the teams, with both having secured 10 wins, while sharing four draw.
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Summer signing David Nugent has three goals and three assists in his last five appearances for Boro.
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Middlesbrough have won five of their last six league games, although they lost last time out, against Reading.
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M'Boro have won 80%, drawn 5% and lost 15% of their last 20 home games.
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M'Boro have conceded in 40% of their last 20 home games.
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Ross McCormack has scored four goals in his last four league appearances against Middlesbrough, including a hat-trick in a 4-3 Fulham win in April.
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Fulham have conceded the most set-piece goals (including penalties) in the Championship so far this season - eight.
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Fulham have faced more opposition shots on target this season than any other Championship outfit (57).
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Fulham have won 25%, drawn 25% and lost 50% of their last 20 away games.
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Fulham have conceded in 80% of their last 20 away games.