Middlesbrough and Coventry will ring in 2024 by facing each other in the Championship at the Riverside Stadium on New Year's Day (15:00) in a repeat of last year's play-off semi final.

When the two sides met at the Coventry Building Society Arena back in August, Coventry ran out as 3-0 winners as Boro endured a slow start to the campaign. Michael Carrick's side started to pick up as Coventry then began to go through a bit of a rough patch.

Both sides have been looking strong in recent weeks and they will be fancying their chances to finish in the top six once again. They head into this encounter with just two points between them.

Match Odds

Middlesbrough are the 9/10 favourites to get the three points here, and avenge both their play-off semi-final heartache and the loss at Coventry at the start of the season. You will find a draw valued at 12/5, while Coventry are 5/2 to haunt Boro once again.

Both teams to score can be found at 4/6. Over 2.5 goals is priced at 8/11.

Team News

It is currently unknown whether Boro duo Hayden Hackney and Anfernee Dijksteel will be fit for the visit of the Sky Blues.

Coventry are still without defender Liam Kitching as he continues to serve the suspension he received against Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day.

Middlesbrough and both teams to score @ 13/5

Boro fans may consider Coventry a bogey team of theirs after their last two encounters across all competitions, but we fancy the Teesside outfit to get their own back on the Sky Blues on Monday.

They may have had a slow start in the summer after some personnel changes but Michael Carrick is slowly getting his side back to where wants them to be as they sit just three points off the play-off places.

Boro started the festive period off strongly with a slender victory over West Bromwich Albion, but they were left stunned as they were beaten by bottom-of-the-table Rotherham United on Boxing Day. They managed to find a response as they won 2-1 at Huddersfield Town on Friday and they know how much of a morale boost beating Coventry would have on the dressing room.

The visitors have been more impressive of late and they should be able to cause the hosts problems they know all too well about, but we're backing Carrick's men to get their revenge against their opponents on New Year's Day and get 2024 off to a perfect start.

Haji Wright to score anytime @ 23/10

Haji Wright's first season in English football hasn't been as glamorous as he may have hoped, which tends to happen when you are signed for a club-record fee. But the American forward has still contributed seven goals in the Championship for Coventry.

The striker netted in his side's 2-2 draw with Swansea City last time out which will be great for his confidence ahead of the trip to the Riverside. It's no secret that he is very quick and he will look for many opportunities to get into a race with Boro defenders for the ball on Monday afternoon.

Coventry have been organised and carried much more of a threat in recent weeks and Wright has played a key role in this period. The attacker will be fancying his chances to add to his tally in this one, especially when they are coming up against a rival in the race for the top six. A win for the Sky Blues could see them sit just two points outside the play-offs, so there is some extra motivation for him to score again.