Marvelous Nakamba picks out Alfie Doughty on the edge of the Middlesbrough box for Luton, but his touchback to Allan Campbell brings an awful first-touch from the Scot.

Boro clear.

Need to be better there.

Cody Drameh almost measures a little clip over the top of Middlesbrough's defence for Luton to find Elijah Adebayo, but the visitors' defence get it right.

The flag shoots up. Offside.

Ryan Giles skitters into space behind the Luton defence, but the Middlesbrough attack is halted by the referee's assistant's prompt flag.

Amari'i Bell is laid out on the soggy grass for Luton after an aerial tussle with Matt Crooks who strolls away looking innocent.

One that ex-Luton favourite Mick Harford would have perhaps thought familiar. That was his style.

Still, Middlesbrough the side pushing but Luton yet to be breached and for all the possession, not too much by way of goalmouth incident.

It's a little bit scrappy in midfield as the ball pings about, loose touches and 50-50s aplenty.

Luton finally get into the final third, after a sweeping Cody Drameh ball into the right channel, but Pelly Ruddock-Mpanzu can't centre it and it's a goal-kick.

Image source, Rex Features

Middlesbrough have grasped a bit of possession and are moving the ball about sharply.

Marc Bola whacks a shot over the top after some neat build-up. No real issue for Ethan Horvath.

Neil Maddison
Former Middlesbrough midfielder on BBC Tees

It's been a good confident start from Middlesbrough, getting on the ball, passing it around in good areas. Luton are a physical side and of course you have to match them, but from a footballing point of view I have no doubt Boro will play their part in this game, as they have been doing all season.

Alfie Doughty gets the ball pinched off him by Isaiah Jones, who zips away down the right.

He looks up and rolls a ball into the box, but it's a simple claim for Luton goalkeeper Ethan Horvath.

Ryan Giles then seeks a cross but it's blocked, and Elijah Adebayo brings it clear.

For all of the notion that Middlesbrough are 'weakened' tonight by injuries, they do have Cameron Archer in the side, who has been sensational of late.

Isaiah Jones and Ryan Giles have excellent delivery from wide. Pace and trickery too.

Much to keep Luton occupied.

Both sides just feeling their way into this.

Or not. Alfie Doughty has shown the craft within his left-foot, but he overpowers the curler into the Boro box, and it's a goal-kick.

Disappointing, but still very early days.

Luton get a free-kick inside 15 seconds, Marc Bola looks flummoxed as to why.

Danger for Boro at the back here.

Right then. This atmospheric little ground is ready.

Luton get us going.

It's been hoying it down at Kenilworth Road or raining if you're more formal about it, so expect every players' favourite slick pitch to bring about some sharp passing.

Watch those tackles lads.

I was quite looking forward to see the battle between Luton's Carlton Morris and Boro's Chuba Akpom up to tonight.

Morris is in the side tonight with 19 goals to his name, but 29-goal Akpom is sat on the bench.

Will we get that tussle at some stage? If it's all going wrong for Boro then maybe we will.

Image source, Getty Images

Middlesbrough have had turned to some raw recruits on the bench tonight for their trip to Bedfordshire, and given the comments of Michael Carrick, it's little surprise.

There are injury concerns throughout the squad, as to be expected at the tail-end of a 46-game season, so it's a case of make-do and mend for the Teessiders right now.

"It's part of the game," Carrick told BBC Radio Tees.

"At this time of year, towards the end of the season and having played this many game it does mount up.

"But it's a really stable squad who have dealt with all the ups and downs all season."

Image source, Getty Images

Luton Town might still have a mathematical chance of catching Sheffield United in that second spot for automatic promotion, but for all intents and purposes boss Rob Edwards is now planning for the play-offs.

His side booked their place in their midweek draw at Reading last week, a point which came after a late flurry against a dogged Royals outfit with Carlton Morris' late leveller.

This game might well be a dress rehearsal for the big knock-out games to come.

"The lads never give up, they never give up," Edwards told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"They keep going, they keep fighting; this is Middlesbrough coming and they're going to be in and around it.

"Let's get the atmosphere going on Monday night, I'm sure it will be big and I'm looking forward to it.

"Let's have an early taste of the play-offs."

Cauley Woodrow misses out for Luton Town, so Elijah Adebayo returns to the starting XI for Rob Edwards' side.

Middlesbrough have rung the changes with Marc Bola, Dan Barlaser, Anfernee Dijksteel, Isaiah Jones and Matt Crooks coming into the squad.

Cain Sykes, Bryant Bilongo and Jack Stott come onto a youthful looking bench.

Luton: Horvath, Lockyer, Bradley, Bell, Drameh, Nakamba, Mpanzu, Doughty, Campbell, Morris, Adebayo.

Subs: Shea, Berry, Lansbury, Clark, Taylor, Freeman, Johnson.

Middlesbrough: Steffen, Giles, Lenihan, Bola, Dijksteel, Howson, Mowatt, Jones, Barlaser, Crooks, Archer.

Subs: Rodrigo Muniz, Roberts, Akpom, Hackney, Akono Bilongo, Stott, Sykes.

Referee: Scott Graham (Oxfordshire)

Image source, Rex Features

Essentially, it's a convoluted way of saying that while this game perhaps lacks the 'promotion shoot-out' quality we perhaps hoped for when it was made a Monday night special - it still has plenty going for it.

It's the Championship, it's two hopefuls, it's time to find your form.

Let's go.

Image source, Getty Images

Hope has coursed through Middlesbrough's hearts and minds too.

It was there in 1986, when the Ayresome Park gates were padlocked, and a brave band of local lads fought to keep the club afloat on the pitch.

Names such as Tony Mowbray, Gary Pallister and Stuart Ripley forged a bond with their team, taking the Boro from Third to First in as many seasons as Steve Gibson and a consortium stepped in with financial muscle off it.

Hope was there to soothe when Brazilian hero Juninho cried after relegation from the Premier League in 1997, just as it had been when Bryan Robson took them up just three years before.

It was there in 2004, as Boro won their first trophy at Cardiff with the League Cup, and then again in 2006, glowing hot like the iron ore that was fired the Redcar blast furnace, as they made it to the Uefa Cup final before losing to Sevilla.

It sweeps around the Riverside now, as a north east lad in Michael Carrick - albeit from up the A19 in Newcastle - has brought great belief back to the Teessiders that they can return to the big time.

Image source, Getty Images

Let's start with tonight's hosts. Luton Town.

Hope goes back to 1983, to Maine Road, to survival. Raddy Antic's almost shinned half-volley dipping sweetly in the corner past Alex Williams, earning a win that kept Luton in the First Division and sent Manchester City down.

A little more recently, hope was there when they feared being sent to oblivion, when it wasn't just league survival any more. It was about existence, with the clubs in the hands of receivers. Hope brought them through.

It remained with the proud Hatters no longer a Football League club in 2009, after punishing points deductions saw them doomed to the National League. They believed, then. That hope proved vital.

Promotions have seen them bounce back to the Championship. Hope now is looking up, buoyant. Optimistic. About progression, not survival. The Premier League is a realistic ambition. So is, just about, automatic promotion.

Hope can be powerful, and Luton have felt it.