Preview: Middlesbrough v Bournemouth

Middlesbrough will be hoping to record just their second Premier League victory of the season when they face a confident Bournemouth at Riverside Stadium on Saturday.

Posted Saturday, October 29, 2016 by Foxsports.com

The Cherries drew 0-0 with Tottenham Hotspur in their last league clash to extend their run to just one defeat in their last seven league outings.

It means Eddie Howe's side will no doubt visit Middlesbrough with high hopes of collecting all three points. With that said, Boro arguably gave their best performance of the campaign so far in a 0-0 draw with Arsenal at Emirates Stadium recently, where Aitor Karanka's men were unlucky not have beaten the Gunners as Gaston Ramirez and Alvaro Negredo both went close to scoring.

However, at home the Smoggies have lost three out of four in the league and this must be a concern to Karanka. Nonetheless, the Spanish manager has urged his players to keep showing a desire to improve.

"We don't want to arrive to games obsessed that we have to win," Karanka told reporters. "The way we managed the game at Arsenal was really good and we have to keep improving."

In team news, Middlesbrough's only absentee is captain Grant Leadbitter, who has yet to full recovery from hernia surgery. Calum Chambers is set to make his return after missing last week's draw with Arsenal, as he was ineligible to face his parent club.

Meanwhile, Howe will make a late decision on Junior Stanislas, who is in doubt due to a calf injury. Midfielder Andrew Surman is available after he recovered from illness, although Marc Pugh is doubtful with a knock. Brad Smith and Lewis Cook are still ruled out.