Different Elland Road challenge expected as 'difficult' Leeds United prediction made

Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick knows his side will come up against a very different Leeds United in tonight's Championship clash - but he is relishing the 'great challenge'.

The Teessiders have already won at Elland Road once this season, but Carrick is well aware that it will be a different occasion than it was in the 3-0 Carabao Cup success for his side in August. Daniel Farke took the chance to rotate his side for that game, and is even though tonight's match comes in the middle of a hectic schedule for both sides, the Leeds boss is expected to pick his strongest XI this evening.

A win for Leeds would put them two points clear of Sheffield United at the top of the Championship table, with Chris Wilder's Blades travelling to Millwall on Wednesday night. However, Boro have ambitions of their own too, and are looking to continue their promotion push with another strong away performance.

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Carrick's men held Burnley to a 1-1 draw at Turf Moor on Friday night, a result which means they enter the Christmas run-in fifth in the table, seven points behind Leeds. Former Manchester United midfielder Carrick is expecting a tough test tonight and admits that while that Carabao Cup result will count for little, it does add an extra element to the occasions.

“Every game is different, and especially so with that one being in the cup,” Carrick told TeessideLive. “There is a bit of a different side to that. They are one-off games. But certainly in terms of the feeling of having success there and scoring goals, I’m sure it will add a little bit of something. But it’s a whole new test for us.

“As you would expect. They’re a dangerous team who commit a lot of bodies forward. They’ve got really good individuals and don’t give much away, hence why they’re towards the top of the league.

“It’s a great challenge for us - going there to perform in a game like this, like we did the other night. It’s all in front of us and the boys are ready for it. We knew coming in that it was two challenging games.

“But then we’ve got Millwall after that, then the Christmas period after that. So you take it one game at a time. We know how tough a challenge it will be. They’re playing really good football and getting really good results with some fantastic individual players. We’ve had some really good games against them over the last year or so and I’m sure tomorrow will be another good one as well.”

Middlesbrough are unbeaten away from the Riverside since a 2-1 defeat at Watford at the start of October, with wins at QPR and Oxford to go with that draw at Burnley and a point at Norwich City.