Pick of the stats - Middlesbrough v Sheffield Wednesday
- Published
Middlesbrough are currently in the final Championship play-off spot in a tight battle for the top six at the midway point of the season.
They are level on points with seventh-placed West Bromwich Albion while just five points separate fifth-placed Blackburn Rovers and ninth-placed Sheffield Wednesday.
The Owls travel to the Riverside having won two games in a row whereas Boro have won just once in their past four games.
Middlesbrough have won three of their last five league matches against Sheffield Wednesday (D1 L1) and won 2-0 at the Riverside last season.
Sheffield Wednesday have lost their last two league visits to Middlesbrough since a 4-1 victory under Garry Monk in September 2019.
This is the fourth league meeting between Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day – Boro won 1-0 in 1930 but the Owls have won the last two in 1999 and 2018.
Middlesbrough have won nine of their last 12 league games on Boxing Day but did lose 1-0 away at Rotherham United last season.
Sheffield Wednesday lost 2-0 to Coventry on Boxing Day last year but haven't lost on consecutive years since 2000 (2-0 vs. Bolton) and 2001 (1-0 vs. Birmingham).