Peterborough United -Vs- Middlesbrough - Preview

High flyers Middlesbrough travel to London Road in this weekends clash in the npower championship

Peterborough United -Vs- Middlesbrough
Venue: London Road
Date: 8th December, 2012
Kick-off: 3pm

The Posh will be looking to get their first win in 8 games in this fixture, as they find themselves 4 points from safety following a diabolical run of form, and results.

Middlesbrough have enjoyed a good start to the season and currently sit 4th in the Championship table, and they look to make a push to the premier league, under manager Tony Mowbray.

TEAM NEWS

Peterborough United

Full back, Tommy Rowe, could take his place back in the team after a poor defensive performance against Blackpool. Michael Bostwick is also expected back for the Posh, as is centre back, and club captain, Gabriel Zakuani (below). These changes come after a 4-1 last weekend, that saw the current back line run ragged by Thomas Ince and co.

Posh could also make changes in midfield, with Danny Swanson, Kane Ferdinand and Daniel Kearns pushing for starts, as Fergie looks for a solution to Posh`s poor performances. However, he only has one option to play up front, with Dwight Gayle being the only recognised first team striker at the club. This is due to Saido Berahino making his return to West Brom, following a knee injury sustained against Ipswich.

Jonson Clarke-Harris is likely to make the substitutes bench for this encounter due to Posh`s lack of strikers, and Jaanai Gordon could also make the squad, after signing his first professional contract just a matter of days ago, on his 17th birthday.

Vital Posh predicts the starting line-up could be:

Olejnik

Little, Zakuani, Brisley, Bostwick, Rowe

Thorne, McCann, Tomlin
Boyd

Gayle

Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough will hope to welcome back full back George Friend, as he recovers from a hamstring injury, having missed the last 3 games. Former Real Madrid centre back Jonathon Woodgate (below) faces a late fitness test, as does Faris Haroun, as the pair both look to recover from injuries in time for the trip to London Road

HOTSHOTS

Peterborough United

6 - Boyd
6 - Tomlin
3 - Sinclair
2 - Berahino
2 - Bostwick


Middlesbrough

8 - McDonald
4 - Jutkiewicz
4 - Emnes
4 - Ledesma
3 - Miller

PREDICTION

The Posh`s performances have been about as predictable as the lottery numbers, and that`s what makes making a prediction so difficult this season.However, the visitors have some very good players, and in Posh`s current situation, it`s hard to see where the points are going to come from.

Vital Posh predicts a 3 - 1 defeat


REFEREE

Carl BERRY takes charge of this encounter.

The referee from Surrey has never reffed Posh before!

He will be assisted by Simon Barrow and Dave Bushell.

The fourth official is David Plowright.

UP THE POSH

Follow me on Twitter: @TomLea_

Photos/images courtesy of www.theposhpics.com

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