Preview: Middlesbrough vs Doncaster Rovers – prediction, team news, lineups KIK BALL

Middlesbrough are set to get their EFL Cup campaign underway on Tuesday when they welcome Doncaster Rovers to the Riverside Stadium for their first round tie.

Boro will be hoping to build on their win last time out, while Rovers will be looking to extend their staggering unbeaten streak in midweek.

Match preview

Middlesbrough endured a difficult pre-season under Rob Edwards, who replaced Michael Carrick in the dugout back in June, drawing four, losing one and failing to win any of their five friendlies.

However, the new boss earned his first victory in the hotseat on Saturday, when Boro beat Swansea City 1-0 courtesy of a second-half header from centre-back Dael Fry.

That win brought Edwards’s side up to eighth in the Championship table, and fans will be hoping that the former Luton Town head coach can repeat his success with the Hatters by clinching promotion to the Premier League in 2025-26.

Turning their attention to the cup this week, the hosts will take confidence from their commendable home record that features five wins, one draw and one defeat in competitive matches on their own turf since March.

That being said, supporters would be forgiven for harbouring doubts given that Middlesbrough have come out on top on just one occasion since mid-April, losing three and drawing the other five of their nine games in that stretch.

Meanwhile, Grant McCann‘s Doncaster are in excellent form ahead of this clash, and despite their third-tier status, they will be cautiously optimistic of causing an upset.

Rovers have made a perfect start to the League One season, following up their 1-0 win over Exeter City by claiming all three points in a 2-1 victory on the road against Mansfield Town on Saturday.

Those triumphs have McCann’s men sixth in the division, an impressive feat considering that they were only just promoted after winning the 2024-25 League Two title, and they will be dreaming of climbing the leagues in back-to-back seasons.

Impressively, their strong opening to this term has also extended Doncaster’s current unbeaten run to 17 games, with 11 wins and six draws across all competitions making up a memorable few months.

Such consistency will serve them well in 2025-26, and supporters may even be quietly confident on Tuesday given that they have seen the visitors go 10 straight matches without defeat on the road, winning six of their last seven overall, and four of their last six in competitive fixtures.

Middlesbrough form (all competitions):

Doncaster Rovers form (all competitions):

Team News

Middlesbrough will be without a number of players on Tuesday, including left-back Alex Bangura, who is dealing with a hamstring problem, right-sided defender Darragh Lenihan, who has a muscle issue, and goalkeeper Seny Dieng, who is recovering from an Achilles injury.

In their absence, Edwards could start a back three of Luke Ayling, Dael Fry and Alfie Jones, with the trio flanked by Callum Brittain and Sammy Silvera at wing-back in front of shot-stopper Sol Brynn.

Elsewhere, attacking midfielder Riley McGree is nearing a return from a muscle injury but is not ready to take part this week, so Morgan Whittaker and Delano Burgzorg are likely to line up behind striker Tommy Conway.

As for Doncaster, Brandon Hanlan should start at centre-forward, supported by Luke Molyneux and Glenn Middleton out wide, as well as Harry Clifton from an attacking midfield position.

In the centre of the park, Charlie Crew and George Broadbent could continue in the XI in a double pivot, sitting just in front of Connor O’Riordan and Matty Pearson at the heart of McCann’s defence.

Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:

Brynn; Ayling, Fry, Jones; Brittain, Morris, Hackney, Silvera; Whittaker, Burgzorg; Conway 

Doncaster Rovers possible starting lineup:

Lo-Tutala; Bailey, O’Riordan, Pearson, Maxwell; Crew, Broadbent; Molyneux, Clifton, Middleton; Hanlan 

We say: Middlesbrough 1-2 Doncaster Rovers

Middlesbrough may have won their opening day clash in the Championship, but they have struggled to find their feet under Edwards so far, and their third-tier opponents could provide a serious challenge on Tuesday.

Doncaster are in exceptional form, carrying their momentum from 2024-25 through pre-season and into this campaign, and they will feel capable of causing a cup upset. 

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