Boro v Leeds United

Boro v Leeds United

Having comfortably seen off the challenge of Wolves in the League Cup on Tuesday night, it's back to business in the Championship for Boro this weekend.

Thoughts of the trip to Old Trafford in the next round of the League Cup have to be put on hold, as Leeds United arrive at the Riverside Stadium this Sunday.Having started the 2015/16 season somewhat unimpressively, Aitor Karanka has started to find some consistency in results and six wins in a row is the sign of a team in good form. Most importantly, four of those wins have come in the Championship and that's why Boro come in to the weekend fixtures sitting in the automatic promotion places.

However, Leeds United, under the stewardship of German manager Uwe Rosler come in to the match having lost just one Championship game this season. Despite their first match of the season 1-0 at home to Ipswich Town last Tuesday, the Elland Road club bounced back well with a 2-1 at MK Dons on the weekend, underlining their potential to win away from home. In fact, despite losing just once in eight Championship games, Leeds have won just two of them but crucially, both were on the road.

That being said, Boro have nothing to fear, as Leeds have managed to keep just one clean sheet in the Championship this season. Boro have scored at least two goals in each of their last six games, so coming up against this Leeds defence should be an inviting prospect. A word of warning for Boro fans though, as Leeds have also found the back of the net twice in their last three away Championship games. In addition to this, Boro have only beaten Leeds once in their last 13 visits to the Riverside, a record which must be improved this coming weekend, if Boro are to keep pace at the top.

Having done the double over Boro last season, Leeds should not be underestimated in any way and both Chris Woods and Mirko Antenucci will have to be watched closely. With Boro in such good goalscoring form, it could be the battle between Boro's central defenders, one of which will be Daniel Ayala and the Leeds strikers, which determines the outcome of the match.

If Boro's defence can nullify Leeds' attacking threat, then there is more than enough going forward to suggest the three points will be staying at the Riverside come the final whistle.

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