It could have so easily been 2-0! Gaston Ramirez bullies his way into the touchline and whips a ball into Jordan Rhodes but his effort goes just wide.

Wolves are going to have to work very hard to get anything out of this first half.

"It's magic, you know, Helan, Sigurdarson, Byrne"

..maybe not. Wolves are a much-changed side from the squad that threatened teams on the break last season. Bakary Sako (sold to Crystal Palace), Nouha Dicko (injured) and Benik Afobe (sold to Bournemouth) are all missing on a chilly evening on Teesside tonight.

Tonight's visiting strike-force have it all against them - Middlesbrough have the best home defensive record in the Championship this season.

Image source, BBC Sport/Rex Features

Yet another injury to add to the list, Wolves fans? This time it's Ethan Ebanks-Landell who limps off after landing badly in a challenge.

Kenny Jackett's side have certainly suffered with injuries this season.

After all that has been said about Wolves fans not traveling in protest tonight, the club makes a thoughtful gesture to the few hundred who made the lengthy Friday night trek. 

Emilio Nsue clears Jeremy Helan's cross for a corner and it's Middlesbrough's turn to look shaky at the back as they struggle to steer the ball to safety from the set play that follows.

Middlesbrough's Gaston Ramirez floats a free kick into the box and Dominic Iorfa heads a nervous clearance out for a corner. It might be just 10 minutes in, but Wolves look shaky and it's the hosts who are having all the play at the Riverside.

Middlesbrough defender Tomas Kalas drives an effort from range but the ball goes high and wide. The hosts' confidence is clearly flowing early on.

The Teessiders' are fired up. Could the top of the Championship beckon come 10pm?

Middlesbrough look better organised than Wolves at the minute. Albert Adomah, buoyed by his early chance, tries his luck again but his low long-range drive flies wide of Carl Ikeme's right-hand post.

Former Middlesbrough midfielder Neil Maddison talking on BBC Tees very nearly got what he asked for there from Albert Adomah. If you are a Teesside local, tune in to listen to match commentary.

Big chance for Middlesbrough, Gaston Ramirez plays Albert Adomah through with a superb ball that tears the Wolves defence apart, but the Boro man's finish rolls wide of Wolves keeper Carl Ikeme's post.

That's the spirit, get in early and get excited!

Wolves get us under way at the Riverside.

A snapshot of Wolves' small travelling support tonight.

Wolves fans will be wishing this man was playing tonight. The defender suffered a broken metatarsal in Wolves' 1-1 draw with QPR in January.

The teams are out on the pitch at the Riverside and kick off is minutes away.

Fancy Middlesbrough topping the Championship table tonight? Are you a Wolves fan at the Riverside Stadium, or one staying away in protest of the fixture change and ticket price?

If this game or any of the weekend's Championship football is on your mind, then share your thoughts with us via twitter using the hashtag #bbcfootball

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves head coach Kenny Jackett told BBC WM 95.6:

"We've said it before, we want to build on it [Wolves 2-1 win against Derby last week]. We don't want to be inconsistent or necessarily be a side who is not consistent in performances.  

"For the 200 or so that are going, we appreciate them making the effort. It's not easy to get up there on a Friday night, as it would normally be a weekend game which gives you a little more breathing space. Making the effort for this evening is a big one.

"We have come through some testing times this year and we're about halfway in the league - we're as far from the top of the league as we are the bottom, but we've rarely threatened either end."

Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka told BBC Tees:

"It will be a good game because we will play at home and the Wolves game last year was really important for us as it changed a lot of things.

"Wolves were in a bad spell at that moment and winning that game was a good run afterwards. I hope after this game we can have a good run again.

"It's a good opportunity [to go top of the Championship] again. Burnley, Hull and Brighton are all winning games so we have to keep going."

Image source, Rex Features

Following the decision to move tonight's match to a Friday for live television coverage, there will be no scenes like these this evening.

A large number of Wolves' travelling support have boycotted the 350-mile round trip to the Riverside in protest against the fixture change as well as Middlesbrough's ticket pricing for away fans.

In a club statement,, external Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey said, "Fixture changes impact on everyone but particularly on football supporters who are being inconvenienced to such a level we think it is becoming a genuine problem.

“Admittedly, as a mid-table placed team it’s been a tough season on the pitch so far for our supporters, at £32 the ticket prices are high for our fans travelling to the match, and Middlesbrough is a long way away.

"However, regardless of these facts, Wolves taking less than 250 fans to an away League match is an unprecedentedly low number."