Middlesbrough (H) | Match Preview
The Game
Argyle v Middlesbrough. Home Park. Saturday, 4 November. 3pm. Sky Bet Championship.
The Opposition
Middlesbrough have had a rather extraordinary start to the season. In their first seven league games, they accrued just two points, drawing at home to Huddersfield Town and away at Sheffield Wednesday.
Incredibly, Boro turned a corner in sudden style, and won six consecutive games, beating Southampton, Watford, Cardiff City, Sunderland, Birmingham City and Norwich City. Most recently in the league, they lost 2-0 to Stoke City, but bounced back in midweek with a 3-2 win against Exeter City to advance to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
The Gaffer
Michael Carrick came through the youth system at West Ham United, breaking into the first team and playing over 150 games before being sold to Tottenham Hotspur. After two seasons, he moved to Manchester United, where he would play 464 times, and win almost every honour in the game, including the FA Cup, five Premier League titles, two EFL Cups and a Champions League. He received 34 caps for England.
After hanging up his boots, Carrick stayed on the coaching staff at Manchester United, and took charge of three games as caretaker manager, before departing. He was hired as Middlesbrough manager in October 2022, with Boro 21st in the table. By the end of the season, they had risen to fourth, but lost to Coventry City in the play-off semi-final.
The Squad
One of two ever-presents for Middlesbrough this season is goalkeeper Seny Dieng (pictured below). Although born in Switzerland, the 28-year-old stopper has five caps for Senegal, and signed for Boro in the summer. He signed for Queens Park Rangers in 2016, aged 22, and as well as having several loans out, played 120 times for the West London side.
The other played to have played all of Middlesbrough's league fixtures is towering central defender Dale Fry. Having progressed through Boro's youth system, he has remained with his hometown club and has now, aged 26, racked up 210 appearances.
Hayden Hackney (below) is another graduate of the famous Middlesbrough academy, and made his debut in 2021. As well having a loan spell at Scunthorpe United, central midfielder Hackney has played 42 times for Middlesbrough, and recently earned his first cap for England Under-21s. He has played 13 times this season, and has caught the eye in Boro's engine room.
Fancy a Stat?
Middlesbrough have scored 19 goals this season in the Sky Bet Championship. These goals have come from 12 different players.
The History
Argyle and Middlesbrough have met 35 times in the clubs's histories. The Greens have won nine of those games, Boro have won 15 and there have been 11 draws.
The most recent meetings came in the 2009/10 season, where each side picked up an away win. Argyle won 1-0 at the Riverside Stadium through a goal by Jamie Mackie, before Middlesbrough won 2-0 at Home Park later in the season, with goals scored by Stephen McManus and Jonathan Franks.
Tickets
The game is sold out for Argyle supporters
If you have a season ticket and cannot attend, you can make your ticket available via the Ticket Exchange and receive face value credit if your ticket is resold. Find out more about the Ticket Exchange.
Argyle TV
Commentary for the game will be provided by Charlie Price and Brian McGlinchey.
Argyle TV’s pre-match show, hosted by Erin Black and Aaron Cusack, will begin at 2pm, and is available to watch for free on YouTube.
Domestic supporters can listen to audio commentary on Argyle TV, while international supporters can buy a match pass to watch the game, here.
