We Are Middlesbrough

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With Middlesbrough having won four of their past seven games and scored 20 goals in that period, this is a daunting task for Millwall.

Neil Harris will bid farewell as Millwall boss after the match hoping to have avoided a third successive defeat.

• Middlesbrough have won two of their past three league games against Millwall (L1), as many as across their prior nine matches combined against them (D5 L2).

• Millwall have won just one of their past eight away league games against Middlesbrough (D3 L4), though it did come in their most recent trip on the opening day of last season (1-0); they could win successive such games for the first time since April 2014.

• Middlesbrough have alternated between victory (4) and defeat (3) in their past seven home league games, winning 3-1 over Hull City in their most recent such game.

• Five of Millwall's past seven away league games have been drawn (W1 L1), last drawing three in a row on the road in the league in April 2022.

• Middlesbrough's Finn Azaz has been involved in five goals in his past four home league appearances (three goals, two assists), one more involvement than in his first 15 such games for the club (four assists).

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Middlesbrough midfielder Aidan Morris could be fit to play again before Christmas, according to head coach Michael Carrick.

The 23-year-old suffered a twisted knee while on international duty with the USA in mid-November.

Morris had played in every Championship game for Boro since joining from MLS side Columbus Crew in the summer but has missed the past five with injury.

"Aidan isn't training with the group just yet, but he's progressing well and could be available before Christmas," Carrick said in his press conference ahead of Saturday's home game with Millwall.

After this weekend, Boro travel to Plymouth on 21 December before a run of four games in 10 days over a busy Christmas and New Year period.

Carrick said it will be a "tough game" at the Riverside against Millwall for what will be Lions' head coach Neil Harris' final match in charge.

"We obviously know it's his last game," Carrick told BBC Radio Tees. "He's done a really good job and they'd been on a really good run.

"They'll be wanting to try and bounce back for their own season, so I fully expect a really challenging game - an intense game and we will have to be at our best to win."

You can listen to Michael Carrick's pre-match press conference on BBC Sounds.

Mark Drury
BBC Radio Tees

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Middlesbrough find themselves 10 points from the Championship promotion places today after Sheffield United's victory at Millwall.

Boro are also a point shy of the play-off places after Tuesday's 3-1 defeat at Leeds United.

That was a game that saw Boro draw level in the second half after a first half that captain Hayden Hackney admitted to BBC Radio Tees Sport largely passed them by.

They then contrived to lose two further goals through some sloppy play and returned to Teesside empty-handed.

Michael Carrick's verdict was largely positive, insisting his side had done a lot of good things and that he doesn't think they are far away.

Those comments belied his demeanour on the touchline, where he was a lot more demonstrative than usual and showed flashes of real frustration and anger at some of Boro's decision-making in their own half.

He was also furious that an off-the-ball foul on Emmanuel Latte Lath during a Boro break wasn't spotted by the officials.

Carrick's view of the game was in contrast to the majority of Boro fans, who felt their team hadn't performed anywhere near the level they're capable of.

Indeed, it was a performance that fell short of their showing at Burnley last Friday when they came away from Turf Moor with a point, having made the better chances in the game.

This weekend's game with Millwall is one Boro have to win to resume the momentum they had been building before going to Burnley and Leeds.

The play-offs are a must, but despite there being more than half the season left, the top two may be disappearing over the horizon.

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Millwall's Neil Harris is among four bosses nominated for the Championship Manager of the Month award for November, even though he will leave the club after Saturday's match at Middlesbrough.

Harris led the Lions on a five-match unbeaten run last month from which they took nine points and conceded only three goals.

Chris Wilder's Sheffield United collected 16 points from six unbeaten games in November during which time they went top of the Championship and beat rivals Sheffield Wednesday in the Steel City derby.

Although they lost two of their six league games last month, Middlesbrough went goal crazy under Michael Carrick as they recorded four wins by scorelines of 4-1, 5-1, 6-2 and 3-1.

Scott Parker watched his Burnley side pick up four wins and suffer just one defeat from their six games in November.

The Clarets also only conceded one goal.

The winner of the Championship's Manager of the Month award will be announced on Friday morning.

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Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick has said he is wary of the challenge a "dangerous" Leeds United pose as he prepares to take his side to Elland Road.

Carrick was satisfied following Boro's 1-1 draw at Burnley on Friday but admits his team are set for another testing Championship evening against Daniel Farke's side on Tuesday.

"We know it's a big challenge, they're playing some really good football, getting some really good results and got some fantastic individual players," the 43-year-old told BBC Radio Tees.

"We've had some good games against them over the last year or so and I'm sure this one will be no different."

Boro comfortably saw off Leeds 3-0 in the Carabao Cup in August but Carrick is not looking too much into that result.

"Every game is different but with it being in the cup there is a different side to it, they are kind of one-off games."

The former England, Manchester United and West Ham midfielder also confirmed that defensive duo Rav van den Berg and Lukas Engel have returned to first-team training.

"Rav's back with us, he's been out for us for some weeks," Carrick said.

"Lukas has just joined in for the first time with us in a small capacity which is great, so we're in good shape".

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Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick said it was a "good point" after his side earned a 1-1 draw at Burnley.

"If you go into the changing room, there's a tinge of disappointment, which is a good sign for me," Carrick told BBC Radio Tees.

"The boys are a bit disappointed that we haven't won the game, albeit respectful and accepting the way the game was and how tight it was in some aspects.

"We're striving for more, we're hoping for more. Tonight we couldn't quite get it but we'll certainly take it and use it as a positive going into the games coming up."

On ending Burnley's run of five straight clean sheets, Carrick said: "They're very good defensively, Scotty [Parker] has got them really well organised, not giving a lot away at all through the whole season really.

"It shows some of our play at times was really good and I think we're a little bit disappointed that we haven't had another goal. But maybe they're similar. They had moments around our box as well."

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Middlesbrough forward Tommy Conway admits he loves playing alongside on-loan Liverpool winger Ben Doak.

Conway, 22, scored either side of half-time in the 3-1 win over Hull City thanks to two assists from Doak, who he also plays with for the Scotland national team.

"I love him, not only on the pitch does he cause carnage and creates but off the pitch as well, he's a good mate of mine," Conway told BBC Radio Tees.

"When we're away with Scotland, we're always chilling out together.

"He said he's going to send me the invoice and I did say 'look Beno, I had to do a little bit for you'.

"You always know he's going to create something - it gives me confidence and makes me think of my next move so I need to make sure I'm in the box and timing my run correctly to get on the end of it."

Since Conway made his summer move to the Riverside from Bristol City, he has notched eight goals in his first 14 league appearances.

However, the striker claims he doesn't care who provides the goals as long as the team continue to climb the league table - where they currently sit fifth.

"It doesn’t matter who scores, I just want to be part of a successful team that’s going one place," he added.

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Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick has praised Dael Fry for the defender's commitment to getting back to fitness.

The 27-year-old, who joined his local club aged seven, made his first start after a 10-month injury nightmare as Boro beat Hull 3-1 at the Riverside.

Prior to Saturday's game, Fry’s last competitive start came against Bristol City on 10 February before a pelvic problem ended his 2023-24 campaign and hampered his pre-season, with further complications restricting him to a couple of run-outs with the under-21s in recent months.

Fry had been a first-team mainstay before his injury but had only played 15 minutes off the bench in the 5-1 win over Luton on 9 November before this weekend.

Carrick told BBC Radio Tees: "Dael’s been out injured for a lot longer than what we first thought he would be.

"It’s been frustrating but credit to him for how he’s handled it. He’s worked so hard behind the scenes. It’s not easy to come back into a game like that too.

"It was a big day for him and he stepped up fantastically well."

Adam Lanigan
BBC Sport England

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With typical understatement, Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick says that Ben Doak is doing "alright" as the Liverpool loanee produced another electric display.

Doak set up both of Tommy Conway's goals in Boro's 3-1 win over Hull City, which moved them up to fifth in the Championship.

November has been a spectacular month for the 19-year-old, with five assists for his club and one for Scotland in two fine performances in their Nations League wins over Croatia and Poland.

"He's doing alright, he's doing alright," said Boro boss Carrick.

Doak was a handful for the Tigers all afternoon, because along with the assists, he forced saves from goalkeeper Ivor Pandur and created other chances.

The teenager has emerged as a key player in one of the most electric attacks in the division, with only Norwich City bettering Boro's 32 goals.

And for Carrick, it's a question of letting that talent flourish for the side.

"It's clear for everyone to see the talent that he's got and the threat that he has," he told BBC Sport.

"He's a different threat to most. He's quite direct and not so much loads of tricks and skills, but he's got that attribute to be low with his centre of gravity, he's direct and gets in that position an awful lot.

"Credit to the boys for supplying him and using him and trying to bring out the best of him. He certainly fits the system really well and it's up to us to keep pushing him and developing him and trying to make him better."