Middlesbrough return to Championship action on Saturday afternoon, away to Oxford United.
Michael Carrick will no doubt be keen to see his side pick up where they left prior to the November international break when they travel to the Kassam Stadium this weekend.
Middlesbrough picked up some very positive results earlier this month, netting nine goals in just two meetings versus Queens Park Rangers and Luton Town.
Said wins saw Boro climb up to seventh in the Championship table, now sitting just one point outside the play-offs and three points adrift of fourth-place Burnley going into the latest round of fixtures.
As for Oxford United, their first season back in the second tier has gone ok but they are still sat in the bottom half of the table.
The The U’s have won four, drawn five and lost six this term so far, sitting 16th with a minus-one goal difference.
Sam Parkin makes Oxford United vs Middlesbrough score prediction
On paper, the Teessiders should be clear favourites for this game, especially as they are much stronger on the road in 2024/25.
However, Oxford will take solace in the fact they have already earned points against other promotion hopefuls West Bromwich Albion and Burnley this season.
Now, speaking on the Championship Check-In podcast, EFL pundit Sam Parkin has shared his score prediction for the game.
He said: “Middlesbrough have got back-to-back thumping victories. I think I have to side with them [Boro].
“Oxford fans will be hopeful that lightning can strike twice, that they can beat another really good attacking side. I just think Middlesbrough have got a lot of confidence going forward at the moment.
“2-1 Boro, I’ll go.”
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Oxford United vs Middlesbrough head-to-head record
Throughout history, these two sides have faced off a total of 27 times, first doing so back on September 3rd, 1966.
Middlesbrough have dominated this fixture in the past, winning 16 of those meetings compared to Oxford’s five.
The pair last went head-to-head all the way back in February 2017 when the North East outfit came away with a 3-2 win in an FA Cup clash.
Oxford and Boro have never faced off in the Championship before, last meeting in the league all the way back in 1998 when the pair were in Division One.