Middlesbrough v Doncaster Odds : Boro’ looking to respond following Mowbray sacking at start of the week

September 16, 2014

Middlesbrough are still considered 8/11 favourites by Paddy Power to beat Doncaster despite the sacking of manager Tony Mowbray earlier this week.

It has been a dramatic week up in Teesside and Middlesbrough will be looking for a fresh start as they face their first game without manager Tony Mowbray who was sacked on Monday.

After reaching the playoffs last season, Middlesbrough have been disappointing and the former Uefa Cup finalists find themselves languishing in 16th place in the standing.

Caretaker manager Mark Venus has been quick to act during his stint at the helm as the club have signed Spanish defender Daniel Ayala on loan from Norwich and could very well make his debut in tonight’s clash.

Ayala is most likely to fill Jonathan Woodgate’s spot in the backline as the former England player is still recovering from a calf problem that has kept him out of Boro’s last three games at the club.

Aside from that, Venus will have a full squad to choose from and the former Ipswich defender will be keen to improve the side’s poor home from that has seen them win just one game at The Riverside Stadium this season.

Doncaster will know that they a win tonight would move them above Middlesbrough in the table and could see them sitting as high as 13th by the final whistle with a game in hand on many teams around them.

With his side being hit by injury problems left, right and centre, manager Paul Dickov has finally received some good news after hearing that captain Rob Jones will be fit to play despite fears of a broken arm this time last weekend.

However, fellow defender Jamie McCombe is still out with a shoulder injury and could allow Luke McCullough to make his professional debut in the trip up the A1.

Dickov will still be missing several of his other first team regulars with the likes of Harry Forrester and Federico Macheda all set to be out for the next couple of weeks.

Like Boro’, Doncaster has a poor record for the upcoming fixture having only won 1 of their first 5 games on the road this season.

Despite not being part of the title race in the early stages, the game is an important fixture for both sides who are looking to steer clear of a relegation fight later on in the season.