Middlesbrough v Sheff Wed

Last updated : 09 April 2010 By BBC Sport

Middlesbrough are expected to leave out Gary O'Neil, as another appearance will trigger a payment of £1m to his former club Portsmouth.Andrew Taylor hopes to return after a hernia, but Emanuel Pogatetz is still struggling with the knee injury which kept him out of the last three games.

Wednesday will assess Jermaine Johnson and defender Lewis Buxton, who have both been nursing hamstring problems.

Tommy Miller (calf) and Sean McAllister (stomach) remain sidelined.

MATCH PREVIEW

A home defeat against Bristol City on Easter Monday was a real blow for Sheffield Wednesday, who dropped into the relegation zone because of Crystal Palace's win against Preston.

Wednesday's shortcomings in front of goal have been a major factor in their struggle this season. The defeat against City was the 17th match this season in which they failed to find the net.

But Owls boss Alan Irvine remains upbeat about his side's chances of escaping the drop, and believes two wins from their remaining four games - one of which is against Palace - may be enough for them to survive.

They face a Middlesbrough side that are not yet out of the promotion race. They are two places and six points outside the play-off spots, and are one of four sides yet to lose at home in the Championship in 2010.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Middlesbrough are looking for a fifth successive home league win over Wednesday. The previous four were all in the Premier League.

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• Boro, who won 3-1 at Hillsborough in September, are now targeting the club's first double over Wednesday since 1995/96.

Middlesbrough

• Boro have won two and drawn five of their last seven matches.

• They have not won a game this season in which they have conceded more than one goal.

• The Teessiders boast the best first-half record in the second tier. They have led at half-time in 20 of their 42 games.

• Gary O'Neil could make his 100th appearance for Middlesbrough.

Sheffield Wednesday

• Wednesday have won only one of their last seven matches.

• The Owls have drawn their last four away games, and have not won in eight on the road.

• A goal for Luke Varney would be the 50th of his league career.

MOST RECENT MEETING

Sheff Wed 1-3 Middlesbrough (15 September 2009)

Sheffield Wednesday scorer: Varney 2.

Middlesbrough scorers: Purse (og) 19, Aliadiere 49, Johnson 85.

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport