Pick of the stats: Middlesbrough v Watford
- Published
Two sides low on confidence face-off as Middlesbrough welcome Watford to the Riverside on Saturday (15:00 GMT).
Boro have lost four of their past five games in all competitions and won just twice in 11 matches overall over the past two months to slip to ninth in the Championship table.
The Hornets have also lost four of their past five Championship games and have only one win in 11 games in all competitions since Boxing Day to lie three places but just two points behind Boro.
The clash pits Michael Carrick against his former teammate Tom Cleverley, with the pair having played together 59 times in the Man United midfield.
Middlesbrough have won three of their past four league games against Watford (L1), though did lose the reverse fixture 2-1 in October.
Watford are looking to do the league double over Middlesbrough for the first time since 1989-90, though have lost on each of their past two league trips to the Riverside Stadium.
Middlesbrough are looking to avoid losing successive home league games for the first time since February 2024 after losing 3-2 to Sunderland in their most recent home game.
Since beating Sheffield Wednesday 6-2 in November, Watford have won only one of their past nine away league games (D4 L4).
Middlesbrough's Hayden Hackney has been involved in three goals in his past two league games at the Riverside Stadium (2 goals, 1 assist), as many as in his previous 24 home outings in the Championship.