Middlesbrough aren't safe from relegation - yet - and so a win at the Riverside against the Premiership's bottom club Derby will be a nice Easter gift for Gareth Southgate. Paul Jewell has already started planning for life in the Championship, and Middlesbrough are a team in form after a great draw at the Emirates last weekend.

Middlesbrough are still chasing the 'magic 40 points mark' as they hunt Premiership survival. Middlesbrough have won their last four games with County.

Derby have gone 24 games without a single win and if they lose another two more games they would equal Sunderland’s worst record of 26 games without a victory.


Teams
Afonso Alves is likely to miss out with a hamstring injury which means that Jeremie Aliadiere will keep his place upfront. Mido and Fabio Rochemback are suspended for this clash. Mohamed Shawky will undergo a late fitness test.

Stephen Pearson is out with a hernia injury. The likes of Giles Barnes, Claude Davis, Tyrone Mears and on-loan Danny Mills are all out with injuries.


Squads
Middlesbrough (from): Schwarzer, Turnbull, Young, Wheater, Pogatetz, Huth, Taylor, Grounds, O'Neil, Boateng, Shawky, Downing, Johnson, Cattermole, Tuncay, Alves, Aliadiere.

Derby (from): Carroll, Edworthy, McEveley, Leacock, Jones, Stubbs, Villa, Earnshaw, Miller, Lewis, Todd, Sterjovski, Moore, Robert, Savage, Ghaly, Beardsley, Price.