William Troost-Ekong does well to halt Duncan Watmore down the left, it was a hopeful chase but the Watford defender just plays the ball off the Boro attacker and out for a throw.

Bit scrappy so far.

Paddy McNair blocks off Ismaila Sarr and gives away a free-kick. Watford can go from 0-60mph in quick time.

Watford have found space in between the Boro midfield and defence a couple of times, and Ken Sema managed to pick up a little pocket to fizz a pass wide.

Just outran Joao Pedro and out for a throw.

Xisco's Watford tactics, with the wind it would seem at their backs, are to pump the ball into the channels to get the lively trio of Sarr, Pedro and Sema involved.

Low ball into Joao Pedro got Phillip Zinckernagel away down the left and he slid it wide to the Brazilian.

The cross in was cleared.

Boro then break and Duncan Watmore is into space in the right channel but his driven cross is mopped up by the visitors' defence.

Inauspicious start really. Not a lot going on. Few throw-ins.

Watford tapping it around looking to open up the field and space, Boro harrying and hassling when they can.

Just ticking along.

Fist-bumps from the managers done.

Tim Robinson is the referee.

Watford kick us off, in all-black. Where's the clash with their home kit? Ridiculous.

Anyway, off we go.

Teams are out, 'Pigbag' blares out.

It's a blustery day on Teesside, it's quite open out there at Middlehaven, on the Tees.

Should be a good one this.

BBC local radio

No radio commentary here I'm afraid because of rights issues but you can listen in on FM, digital and freeview if you're in your team's transmission area.

You can also follow the action later this afternoon on BBC Radio 5 Live's Final Score programme, which will be available to listen to via this page.

Image source, Getty Images

Neil Warnock makes a couple of tweaks for Middlesbrough as George Saville and Djed Spence come in for Yannick Bolasie and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.

Just one change for Watford as Isaac Success is replaced in the starting XI by Ken Sema.

Middlesbrough: Bettinelli, Fisher, Hall, McNair, Bola, Howson, Saville, Morsy, Spence, Kebano, Watmore

Subs: Archer, Coulson, Johnson, Mendez-Laing, Bolasie, Fletcher, Akpom, Coburn

Watford: Bachmann, Femenia, Troost-Ekong, Sierralta, Massina, Hughes, Chalobah (c), Zinckernagel, Sarr, Joao Pedro, Sema

Subs: Foster, Ngakia, Lazaar, Cathcart, Kabasele, Sanchez, Gosling, Success, Gray

Image source, Getty Images

It takes some performances and results to live up to the nickname 'Golden Boys' but Watford under Xisco Munoz can lay some claim to earning it.

Ten wins from their past 11 games have seen the Hornets buzz their way into the automatic promotion places - and they have a nine-point gap on the chasing pack.

Not every game has been a fluorescent yellow riot of goals - Tom Lees' own goal earned them victory over strugglers Sheffield Wednesday on Friday - but they're capable of scoring with 56 in 39.

They're also tight at the back, just three goals conceded in the past six.

Image source, Getty Images

Results and injuries have hit Middlesbrough at the worst possible time, with back-to-back defeats likely derailing their promotion bid and the loss of Dael Fry and Marcus Tavernier for much of the run-in.

Neil Warnock is pretty downbeat about their hopes of clinching a play-off spot with eight to go, but it's still mathematically possible. They're ninth and seven points off.

Their hopes largely rest on the form of Duncan Watmore, whose goals have been a useful addition since his arrival in the winter.

The Teessiders tend to lift when the top sides turn up at the Riverside, Watford need be wary.

All 15:00 BST unless stated.

• Colchester United v Barrow
• Crawley Town v Oldham Athletic
• Exeter City v Mansfield Town
• Forest Green Rovers v Salford City
• Grimsby Town v Cheltenham Town
• Harrogate Town v Port Vale
• Leyton Orient v Walsall
• Newport County v Bolton Wanderers
• Stevenage v Bradford City
• Tranmere Rovers v Cambridge United

All 15:00 BST unless stated.

• AFC Wimbledon v Fleetwood Town
• Blackpool v Gillingham
• Bristol Rovers v Doncaster Rovers
• Burton Albion v Swindon Town
• Hull City v Northampton Town
• Milton Keynes Dons v Crewe Alexandra
• Oxford United v Accrington Stanley
• Peterborough United v Sunderland
• Rochdale v Ipswich Town
• Shrewsbury Town v Plymouth Argyle
• Wigan Athletic v Portsmouth

All 15:00 BST unless stated.

• Middlesbrough v Watford (12:30 BST)
• Blackburn Rovers v AFC Bournemouth
• Coventry City v Bristol City
• Luton Town v Barnsley
• Nottingham Forest v Queens Park Rangers
• Reading v Derby County
• Rotherham United v Wycombe Wanderers
• Stoke City v Millwall
• Swansea City v Preston North End
• Sheffield Wednesday v Cardiff City (17:30 BST)

Our offering starts this afternoon with Championship action between Middlesbrough and Watford, at the Riverside Stadium.

It's just the start of a fulsome EFL schedule.

As Ken Wolstenholme used to say on 'Gazzetta' of a Saturday morning: "Here's what's coming up..."

Image source, Rex Features

As springtime envelops us in sunshine (and a bit of snow bizarrely this morning) on an Easter Monday, one of the season's traditions once again comes to the fore.

The double helping of football is a mental and physical test of players, in an already packed schedule.

Yet, with just eight more rounds to play, including today's games, there's no time to ease off the throttle just yet.

Prizes are there to be won, the battle to avoid the drop to be conquered.