Pick of the stats: Middlesbrough v Oxford United
- Published
Oxford United will look to continue their bounce back against play off chasing Middlesbrough at Riverside on Saturday (15:00 GMT).
The U's ended a poor run on nine winless games (W5 D4) with a victory over Watford prior to the international break and will be looking to disrupt yet another top six chaser in Boro.
Though the Teesside club will feel victory is a must, having already dropped three points off the pace of the promotion hunting pack and could risk falling further away with the three teams above (Bristol City, West Bromwich Albion, Coventry City) all finding themselves in fine form.
Middlesbrough are unbeaten across their last nine league games against Oxford United (W7 D2), since a 3-1 defeat in February 1990.
Oxford United have lost 10 of their 13 away league games against Middlesbrough (W2 D1), scoring just eight goals in total across that time.
After winning each of their last two home league games, Middlesbrough will be looking to win three in succession at the Riverside Stadium for the first time since October 2023.
Oxford have won just one of their last 10 league games (D4 L5), though that sole victory did come in their last fixture, a 1-0 home win against Watford.
No player has provided more assists in the Championship this season than Middlesbrough Finn Azaz (11), whilst in the reverse fixture against Oxford, he recorded four goal contributions in total (2 goals, 2 assists) – his most in a league match during his career so far.
