Summary

  • New signing Bamford on the bench for Boro

  • No Payet in West Ham squad

  • Boro won once in last seven league games

  • Hammers won four of their last six league games

  1. get involved

    Are you up for the FA People's Cup?published at 14:51 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2017

    #peoplescup

    Media caption,

    FA People's Cup: Dan Walker shows off his keepy-uppy skills

    Watch BBC presenter Dan Walker's fancy footwork as he explains how you can get involved in the FA People's Cup - the nationwide five-a-side tournament for players of all ages and abilities.

    It's free to enter and if you win, you'll be presented with the trophy at half-time of this year's FA Cup final at Wembley!For more details on how to register, read our Get Inspired guide.

  2. Payet saga 'not good for football'published at 14:48 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2017

    Middlesbrough v West Ham (15:00 GMT)

    .Image source, Reuters

    West Ham manager Slaven Bilic on Dimitri Payet's future: "His (Payet's) departure is not inevitable. I like to solve situations in-house to protect the team. I said everything then and what has changed now? Nothing.

    "It is not a good situation for the club, it is not good for football in general. We took our stand very clearly and it stays the same. 

    "We aren't going to sell our best players on the cheap just because somebody wants to sign them."

  3. Carroll key?published at 14:45 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2017

    Middlesbrough v West Ham (15:00 GMT)

    Martin Fisher
    Match of the Day commentator

    While the Dimitri Payet saga rumbles along, Andy Carroll has inspired the Hammers' recent improvement.

    On a day when chances will be scarce, he might be writing the headlines again rather than the want-away Frenchman.

  4. 'We'll be fighting until the end'published at 14:40 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2017

    Middlesbrough v West Ham (15:00 GMT)

    .Image source, Reuters

    Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka: "It's an important game because if we win we can open a big gap at the bottom, but it's a tough league and I'm sure we will be fighting until the end.

    "The game we played against (West Ham) in London was the game that changed everything.

    "We arrived after losing against Tottenham and the reaction of the players to that game was really good. From that day we've improved and I hope we can continue to improve."

  5. Bargain Bamford?published at 14:34 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2017

    Middlesbrough v West Ham (15:00 GMT)

    Martin Fisher
    Match of the Day commentator

    Sixteenth in the table and four points clear of safety, Middlesbrough would definitely settle for that on the last day of the season. However, some improvement between now and May would be welcomed.

    Aitor Karanka's team have conceded fewer goals than the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City but they're the lowest scorers in the Premier League so it's easy to identify their chief problem.

    Resolving it is much harder. If Patrick Bamford can rediscover his form when with the club in the Championship, he'll prove a bargain.

  6. Team newspublished at 14:29 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2017

    Middlesbrough v West Ham (15:00 GMT)

    Right then, let's crack straight on with the team news at the Riverside.

    Middlesbrough signed Patrick Bamford this week, and the striker starts on the bench for Aitor Karanka's outfit, along with fellow January arrival Rudy Gestede.

    .Image source, .

    There's no Dimitri Payet for West Ham, while it's also too soon for Jose Fonte to make Slaven Bilic's match-day squad.

    The visitors make one change, with Sam Byram coming in for James Collins at the back.  

    .Image source, .