Bournemouth have so much class in their side, and a goalscorer with 17 goals to his name in Dominic Solanke but haven't been able to get him involved so far.

Credit to Boro, they have come out and set about their opponents with zest.

Gavin Kilkenny goes down after a clash of heads with Matt Crooks, but the Bournemouth man is up and running, if not a little sore.

Bournemouth look rattled and Middlesbrough are seeking to exploit the nerves at the back.

Jack Stacey fails to deal properly with a ball into the box but the resulting corner is powered away by Gary Cahill.

Boro have real wide threat, Neil Taylor showing his craft down the left before standing a cross up to the back post which was headed away just before.

Image source, PA Media

Middlesbrough so close!

Another booming ball in behind, Isaiah Jones gallops down the right and sweeps in a cross.

Matt Crooks darts into connect but Mark Travers makes a superb point-blank save.

Boro cranking up the pressure and looking really sharp with the ball over the top.

Bit of a hairy moment at the back for Middlesbrough, as Dael Fry nudges a back-pass to goalkeeper Joe Lumley, which looks a little short.

The keeper slaps a flat, wobbler of a clearance which does have enough legs in the end to ease Boro out of their own end.

Great work from Middlesbrough, who break swiftly and get a chance.

Neil Taylor clips a ball into space for Duncan Watmore to hare after, he takes it in his stride and drives toward the box.

His shot is blocked and stubbed behind.

The corner comes in back post but Anfernee Dijksteel doesn't put his head in where it hurts and the ball goes behind for a Bournemouth goal kick.

Here we go then.

Chris Kavanagh shrills on his whistle, and Bournemouth in a weird luminous green/black ensemble get us under way.

Football's equivalent of the garish Christmas jumper.

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Wilder's early success as manager of Middlesbrough since replacing Neil Warnock last month has not come as a surprise to his opposite number Scott Parker.

The Bournemouth boss went up against Wilder in the Premier League last season while with Fulham, and recognises the threat posed by Boro too.

"He's got three unbeaten results and it's a tough game and a tough place to go," Parker told BBC Radio Solent.

"They've got quality in their side and a coach in Chris who I've huge respect for. He's got huge quality and you know what to expect, I've come up against his teams a few times now.

"It's a lunchtime kick-off up there and we'll be ready for that."

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Wilder has made a career out of coming into teams and leaving them in a better place, just ask Oxford, Northampton and Sheffield United.

Middlesbrough are already seeing some of the fruits of Wilder's labour, proving tough to beat and picking up a couple of decent scalps in wins over Huddersfield and Swansea.

While his side are on an upturn of form, one of the division's big-hitters come to town amid a run of five games without a win.

"We were always going to prepare for them to bring their A-game," the 54-year-old told BBC Radio Tees. "Form is temporary but class is permanent, it's a group that is and is expected to challenge.

"I said when I came in, I believe Bournemouth will be challenging to get out of the division, and nothing has changed that despite a run of results."

Neil Taylor makes his Middlesbrough debut, coming in on the left side for Chris Wilder's side in the one change.

Bournemouth, meanwhile, have Jordan Zemura back, Lloyd Kelly also returns and Junior Stanislas gets a spot on the bench.

Middlesbrough: Lumley, Dijksteel, Fry, McNair, Jones, Crooks, Howson, Tavernier, Taylor, Sporar, Watmore.

Subs: Hall, Hernandez, Ikpeazu, Payero, Bamba, Daniels, Gibson.

AFC Bournemouth: Travers, Stacey, Cahill, Zemura, Kelly, Billing, Lewis Cook, Kilkenny, Christie, Solanke, Anthony.

Subs: Nyland, Steve Cook, Mepham, Marcondes, Brady, Lowe, Stanislas.

Referee: Chris Kavanagh (Lancashire)

The surge of coronavirus cases amid the rise of the omicron variant has led the government to tighten protocols around events.

From a players, coaches and clubs' perspective, it has led the English Football League to up its own procedures, imposing 'red' protocols on clubs, which include increased testing, a limit on the amount of contact at training grounds, access and use of facilities, and also impacts on travel, with social distancing in an attempt to halt the spread.

Keeping the rapidly-transmitting Omicron strain out has been difficult, with cases soaring at clubs - hence the 19 postponements.

For fans, it means proving your Covid vaccine or negative test status at the turnstiles for events hosting more than 10,000 attendees.

We kick off today's reduced programme with a trip to Teesside, as Chris Wilder's improving Middlesbrough entertain a high-flying but stuttering AFC Bournemouth.

A proper 'north v south' encounter that one.

We'll round up what else is to come for you at half-time but for now, it's showtime at the Riverside.

Image source, Reuters

It is the week before Christmas, the big day is just seven sleeps away, and normally this would be a bumper day of football.

For some clubs it happily still is, but with Covid-19 and the Omicron variant continuing to disrupt and delay, quite a few fixtures have been postponed.

Amid the excitement of the festive season and the football extravaganza that is to come, there is anxiety, concern and uncertainty. Staying safe is paramount, of course.

As it stands, football goes on. We'll do our best to make an enjoyable afternoon for you.