Boro welcome struggling Millwall to the Riverside as they look to get back to winning ways after Saturday's setback at Hillsborough.
Aitor Karanka's side are still in the automatic promotion spots despite the 2-0 defeat but their rivals are bunching up behind.
Ahead of a testing trip to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, Boro will be looking to get three points on the board against a Millwall side six points adrift of safety in the Championship relegation zone.
Here's all you need to know ahead of the game in our in-depth matchfile:
Probable line-ups
Probable line-ups for Boro vs Millwall
Injury news
Boro lost at Sheffield Wednesday, but at least they came through the game unscathed from an injury point of view.
Jelle Vossen returns after missing out at Hillsborough with the concussion he suffered against Leeds, but Daniel Ayala is still a week away after a thigh strain suffered at Blackpool. Damia Abella (cruciate) and Rhys Williams (Achilles) are long-term absentees.
Jelle Vossen in action against Leeds
Millwall are without striker Stefan Meierhoffer and midfielder Lee Martin while former Boro man Nicky Bailey (knee) and ex-Sunderland man Carlos Edwards (cruciate) are out long term.
The thoughts of the boss
“It is the best thing that we have a game as soon as possible.
“This month has been very difficult for us because we have nine games in one month and I am not concerned with tiredness because I have a big squad with a lot of quality but sometimes you can have mental tiredness because you don’t have time to work on the training pitch.
“When you finish one game you have to think about the following one as soon as possible.
Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka
“But now when we have lost our game on Saturday it is good we have another game.
“We are very concentrated about the game tonight because all of us want to forget as soon as possible our game on Saturday and all of us want to show everybody why we are in that (second) position. All of us want the game to start as soon as possible.”
Opposition's view
Embattled Millwall boss Ian Holloway remains confident he can keep the club up for a second successive season and insists he is happy to take stick from the fans.
Large sections of the Millwall following at Rotherham on Saturday called for Holloway’s head after they lost to an 85th minute goal, and riot police had to be called in as the atmosphere turned nasty.
Millwall manager Ian Holloway
But Holloway insists pressure is all part of the game and he remains focused on the task of trying to keep Millwall in the Championship.
He said: “Results are what it’s all about but I believe I can turn this around.”
Their man in the know - Charles Porter, South London Press
“Millwall are in trouble and need to find a spark immediately. They have won just two games in 15 and you suspect at most other clubs Ian Holloway would have been sacked.
“The manager has been chopping and changing tactically between games and within games and having started with 4-2-3-1 has tried 4-3-3, 3-5-2 and sometimes 4-4-2 but doesn’t have the players to make any of them work effectively and the players have looked confused at times.
“I suppose the bottom line is that they are demoralised and don’t score goals which is not really ideal in a survival battle.”
Who's the dangerman?
Journeyman striker Ricardo Fuller is Millwall’s top scorer - although admittedly it is not an accolade to shout about this season.
The Lions have netted a meagre 30 goals from 34 games and the much travelled targetman has scored four of them - along with two more in the FA Cup against Bradford.
That doesn’t mean he isn’t a danger.
Since signing for £1m for Crystal Palace from Jamaican side Tivoli Gardens in 2001 Fuller has been ‘making a nuisance of himself’ in penalty boxes for 14 years in England in a career that has seen him play 472 first team games for 10 clubs netting a 119 goals - although he has never previously scored against Boro.
What's the form?
Boro remain in second place in the Championship table despite some fitful recent form.
Manager Aitor Karanka described Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday as “awful” and labelled it their worst display of the season.
Boro’s blank means they have lost two out of their last three games and have scored just two goals in five fixtures.
Karanka said there is no need for Boro fans to panic after the Hillsborough setback.
But as well as being scathing about the performance of his players, he admitted he also made mistakes.
The Spanish boss refused to elaborate on what those errors were, but after making five changes at the weekend expect there to be more alterations tonight as Boro try to return to winning ways and capitalise on any possible slip-up by Derby.
Millwall are third from bottom of the Championship and in freefall.
The Lions started the season in great nick, winning their first three matches.
© CameraSport
Millwall manager Ian Holloway
But Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Rotherham means they have lost 10 of their last 15 league games and since their bright start have won just five times in 35 fixtures.
To make matters worse, Millwall have not won at home in 10 league games - a joint club record - and they are struggling at both ends of the pitch.
The Lions are leaking goals and don’t score many either, netting just twice in their last four outings.
BORO’S LAST FIVE
Feb 28 (a) SHEFF WED
L 0-2
Feb 24 (h) BOLTON W 1-0
Feb 21 (h) LEEDS L 0-1
Feb 18 (a) BIRMINGHAM
D 1-1
Feb 15 (a) ARSENAL L 0-2 (FA Cup 5th rd)
Last five homes: W 1-0, L 0-1, W 3-1, W 2-1, W 2-0
MILLWALL’S LAST FIVE
Feb 28 (a) ROTHERHAM
L 1-2
Feb 24 (h) SHEFF WED
L 1-3
Feb 21 (h) FULHAM D 0-0
Feb 14 (a) LEEDS L 0-1
Feb 10 (a) BIRMINGHAM W 1-0
Last five aways: L 1-2, L 0-1, W 1-0, W 1-0, L 0-4.
Nicky Bailey has played for both Boro and Millwall
Players who have worn both shirts
THE following played for both Millwall and Boro: Harry Astley, Nicky Bailey (pictured in action for Millwall against Boro’s Lee Tomlin), Jack Brearley, Terry Cochrane, Colin Cooper, Mark Crossley, Pat Cuff, Ryan Fredericks, George Friend, Uwe Fuchs, James Gallagher, Joe Gettins, Fred Griffiths, Brian Horne, Justin Hoyte, Paul Kerr, Scott McDonald, Martin Moran, George Reid, Ben Roberts, Hector Shand, David Smith, Phil Stamp, George Stobbart, Robert Walker, Noel Whelan, Paul Wilkinson, Alf Wood.
Coaching connections: Charles Hewitt, Bruce Rioch.
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