Middlesbrough

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St Mirren have signed goalkeeper Zach Hemming on loan from Middlesbrough until the end of the season, with manager Stephen Robinson hinting he would like to make the addition permanent.

Hemming spent the first half of this season at League One side Leyton Orient, but returned to his parent club on 1 January and now heads north to a club he is familiar with.

The 24-year-old spent last season on loan in Paisley, making 33 league appearances as Robinson's side finished fifth.

"We're delighted to have Zach back," Robinson said. "We all know what he can do. He was very successful last season and we will be in discussions with Middlesbrough as we look at the potential of making it permanent at the end of the season.

"My job is to make the squad as strong as we possibly can in every position. I believe bringing Zach in strengthens the squad and gives us another percentage in trying to stay in the top six."

Robinson says Hemming's arrival will likely mean a loan exit for goalkeeper Peter Urminsky, while the Northern Irishman also revealed Brentford could recall current number one Ellery Balcombe during the January window.

"It allows us to look for a loan option for Peter [Urminsky]," Robinson added. "We believe Peter will be a top-class goalkeeper but he needs games.

"Brentford also have a call-back option with Ellery [Balcombe] and that's up to Brentford what they do with that situation. But at the minute, we've got very good competition for goalkeepers."

Promotion-chasing Middlesbrough host struggling Cardiff City on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Boro took all three points on New Year's Day thanks to Alex Gilbert's last gasp goal in their 1-0 win against Hull City to consolidate fifth place.

Cardiff's 1-1 draw against Coventry City came with plenty of drama of its own, with boss Omer Riza claiming that the fourth official's promotion to match referee for his first Championship game led to a harsh dismissal of striker Callum Robinson in the 47th minute.

The Bluebirds are appealing to overturn the red card decision so Robinson may feature in the trip to the Riverside.

• Middlesbrough have won six of their last seven league meetings with Cardiff City (L1), including each of the last four.

• Cardiff City have won three of their last six away league games against Middlesbrough (D1 L2), though did lose 2-0 in this exact fixture this term.

• Middlesbrough have drawn their last two home league games (3-3 v Sheffield Wednesday, 0-0 v Burnley) and could draw three in a row at the Riverside Stadium for the first time since February 2020 under Jonathan Woodgate.

• Cardiff City ended a 13-game winless run away from home in the Championship when beating Watford 2-1 in their final game of 2024 – the Bluebirds last won back-to-back matches on the road in April.

• Callum Robinson has scored each of Cardiff City's last three away league goals and the striker could score in three straight Championship appearances away from home for the very first time (120 away apps).

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Middlesbrough held third-place Burnley to a goalless draw on Sunday to see them keep their spot in the top six.

But while the points were shared between the two promotion-chasing teams, Boro defender Dael Fry feels his side displayed a higher quality.

"They're a good team, a top side in the division, but coming off the pitch, I said to the lads, 'I think we are a better team than them'," Fry told BBC Radio Tees.

"Over both games we had against them over the season, we defended well and we created chances.

"There's no reason we can't kick on now and challenge."

Boro fans will be especially pleased to see their club come out with a clean sheet, having led Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 at half-time on Boxing Day before throwing it away as the game ended in a 3-3 draw.

The 27-year-old, who featured in the entire match against the Owls, said that result came as a "shock" but that the negative emotions served as a reminder.

"To concede three goals in the second half, we were all disappointed, and we knew against Burnley that we had to be on our mettle," Fry added.

"There's no reason we can't do that every game, we just need to be more consistent.

"No matter who we play, we've got to be 100% committed."

You can listen to the full post-match reaction on BBC Sounds.

The final Championship fixture of the weekend features two promotion-chasing teams as Middlesbrough host Burnley on Sunday evening.

The sides drew 1-1 in an entertaining reverse tie at Turf Moor in early December but seventh-placed Boro have faltered a little since then, winning just once and letting slip a three-goal lead at home to Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day.

By contrast, the Clarets are flying high in third place, a point behind table toppers Leeds United, after extending their unbeaten run to 10 matches with a clinical away win over second-placed Sheffield United.

• Middlesbrough are winless in six league games against Burnley (D3 L3) since winning 1-0 in December 2015 under Aitor Karanka.

• Burnley won 2-1 against Middlesbrough at the Riverside last time out in 2022-23 – they've never won consecutive away league games against them.

• Middlesbrough have won their final league game of the year in each of the past three years, winning 2-1 in every game – against Blackpool in 2021, Blackburn in 2022 and Huddersfield in 2023.

• Burnley lost their final league game of the year 3-2 against Aston Villa in 2023 but haven't done so in consecutive years since between 2005 and 2010 (six in a row).

• Burnley manager Scott Parker has one win in five Championship meetings with Middlesbrough (D3 L1), winning 1-0 win Fulham in January 2020. His five games against them have produced just four goals (2 for, 2 against).

Mark Drury
BBC Radio Tees commentator

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What do Boro need?

Boro have a potential issue at right-back where Anfernee Dijksteel is entering the final six months of his contract and Luke Ayling has struggled to hit the heights of last season's loan spell, while Tommy Smith remains a long-term injury absentee.

Recent injuries to Aidan Morris and Hayden Hackney showed the strength in depth in central midfield may need to be augmented if a promotion push is to be sustained, while the right side of attack may need reinforcing too.

What business are they likely to do?

So much depends on what happens with Emmanuel Latte Lath. Ipswich tried to sign him at the end of the summer window and Boro are braced for renewed interest in the Ivorian.

If he leaves it will only be for a figure that suits the club, with the money then being used to buy a replacement and augment other areas of the squad.

It also wouldn't be a surprise to see some fringe figures depart if the interest is there. Dan Barlaser and Isaiah Jones are two players who would surely interest other Championship clubs if they were available.

How successful have they been in recent January windows?

January 2023 put rocket boosters under Michael Carrick's squad just a couple of months after replacing Chris Wilder.

Cameron Archer and Aaron Ramsey dovetailed perfectly with Chuba Akpom and Ryan Giles to help propel Boro to the play-offs where they drew a blank against Coventry in the semi-final.

Are there likely to be any notable departures?

Latte Lath is an obvious talking point but the player Boro coaches and fans alike would be devastated to lose is Ben Doak. The winger is on a season-long loan from Liverpool and everyone on Teesside is praying they don't recall him.

How key is the window?

Right now Boro have their strongest squad for years. It was built with the express intention of challenging for automatic promotion and to this point Boro have underachieved in that regard.

Some freshening up in the right areas may help unlock the potential that is undoubtedly there.

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Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick was at a loss to explain how his side gave up a three-goal lead and drew 3-3 at home to Sheffield Wednesday.

Finn Azaz's double and a goal from Ben Doak had them three up after 30 minutes and seemingly cruising towards three points.

But three goals in 14 second-half minutes, which also included a red card for Boro defender Rav van den Berg, saw the Owls stage an incredible comeback.

It meant Carrick's team slipped out of the Championship's top six.

"There were so many good things in the first half to be in a position like we were in and be in a commanding position going into the second half," Carrick told BBC Radio Tees.

"To let the game unravel and get away from us that quickly, it can't happen. It's pretty obvious to say that, but it can't happen.

"It went so quickly and we made some bad decisions, didn't react to it too well and then a couple of deflections and they score the goals, but it can't happen."

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).

Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick believes he will see his side reap the benefits of rotating the starting line-up during the second half of the season.

The 43-year-old opted to select Tommy Conway ahead of Emmanuel Latte Lath for Boro's entertaining 3-3 draw with Plymouth Argyle on Saturday, one of three changes from the side that started the victory over Millwall seven days earlier.

"I think as a whole group the boys have played a lot of games between them and that has been a big plus for us moving through the season," Carrick told BBC Radio Tees ahead of his side's Boxing Day sell-out clash with Sheffield Wednesday.

Latte Lath was a 75th-minute substitute at Home Park, scoring nine minutes after coming on to the pitch, and Carrick believes alternating his top attacking talent will improve his side's chances of a play-off surge in the new year.

"Tommy [Conway] scored a goal which was onside which was given offside, it was a good finish from Tommy, and Manu [Latte Lath] took his chance fantastically well and got us right back in the game so, yeah, pleased with both of them.

"I would like to think that we'll get the benefits further through the season - I think the boys individually are looking in a good place".

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Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick was not happy with his team's defending but hailed their character after Saturday's 3-3 draw at Plymouth.

"I was pleased with the boys' character and commitment and belief to keep pegging it back second half like we did," he told BBC Radio Tees.

"I thought we were the better team second half, but first half we weren't at our best.

"You can't concede that many opportunities and goals and expect to win games every week.

"[With] the attacking play and opportunities we maybe could have scored more, but we just gave ourselves too much to do really."

Plymouth will seek to get back on track, and out of the Championship drop-zone, when Wayne Rooney welcomes former teammate Michael Carrick and Middlesbrough to Home Park.

Argyle are second bottom and a point from safety, albeit with a much more inferior goal difference on their rivals in the bottom three, while Boro are sixth and looking to close an eight-point gap to the automatic promotion places.

• Plymouth Argyle have lost three of their past nine league games against Middlesbrough (W2 D4), with this fixture last season finishing 3-3

• Middlesbrough are unbeaten across their past eight away league games against Plymouth Argyle (W4 D4), since a 1-0 loss back in October 1964

• Plymouth have lost each of their past four league games, conceding 14 goals in total during that time. Not since March 2021 have the Pilgrims endured a longer losing run in the same season (five games)

• Middlesbrough have scored 19 goals in total across their away games in the Championship so far this season – the most of any side in the competition

• Middlesbrough's Finn Azaz has recorded 14 goal contributions in the Championship this season (six goals, eight assists), with only Norwich's Borja Sainz managing more (15 goals, two assists)

• Azaz is one of only two players to record both at least five goals and assists in the competition, alongside Sheffield United's Gustavo Hamer