Well Sportsfans it's back to me again for the MDT, that's come round quickly 🤔

Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough face off in a massive promotion showdown at Portman Road on Sunday, 19 April 2026 (12:00 BST), with both teams looking to recover from a difficult week in the EFL Championship.

Match Overview

This fixture is being dubbed a promotion six-pointer as the season enters its final stretch. Ipswich currently sit 2nd in the table with 75 points, while Middlesbrough are in 5th with 72 points. A win for Boro would see them move level on points with the Tractor Boys, though Ipswich would still hold a crucial game in hand.

Team Form

Both sides head into this clash following disappointing results against Portsmouth.

• Ipswich Town: Lost 2-0 at Fratton Park on Tuesday night, missing a chance to solidify their grip on the automatic promotion spots.

• Middlesbrough: Suffering from a "crisis of confidence" after a six-game winless run, most recently falling 1-0 at home to Portsmouth on Saturday.

Team News & Injuries
Middlesbrough: Midfield and Creative Voids

Manager Kim Hellberg is facing a selection headache with several key players on the sidelines at a crucial time". 

• The Hackney Waiting Game: Talismanic midfielder Hayden Hackney. has missed the last three games with a calf injury. While his recovery is progressing "slower than hoped," there is an outside chance he could feature as Boro desperately look to end their six-game winless run.

• Whittaker and Castledine: Morgan Whittaker and Leo Castledine both missed the recent defeat to Portsmouth. Hellberg was non-committal on their return, stating "I don't know" when asked if they would be ready for Sunday.

• Full-back Fitness: Matt Targett is expected to play through pain to feature although Finley Munroe could play if not. Alex Bangura is hoping to return to the matchday squad after an injury layoff.

Ipswich Town: Rotation and Recovery 

Kieran McKenna must decide whether to stick with the side that lost at Portsmouth or freshen up his attack.

• The Philogene Factor: Jaden Philogene has recently returned from an MCL injury but is yet to start as he builds up fitness. After the team failed to score at Fratton Park, McKenna may consider handed him a start to provide more spark.

• Defensive Decisions: Leif Davis recently returned from a suspension, but McKenna has a big choice to make at centre-back between Jacob Grieves and Cedric Kipre, the latter having played a key role in the earlier derby win over Norwich.

Head-to-Head 

The historical record between these two is remarkably even:

• Total Matches: 26.

• Ipswich Wins: 9.

• Middlesbrough Wins: 9.

• Draws: 8.

• Earlier This Season: Middlesbrough won the reverse fixture 2-1 at the Riverside Stadium in October 2025.

Other notable fixtures this weekend

Blackburn Rovers vs Coventry City

Millwall vs QPR

Hull City vs Birmingham City

Swansea City vs Southampton

Wrexham vs Stoke City

Line up Nobby Predicts

Brynn 

Ayling Fry Malanda Targett

Morris Brown

Sarmiento McGree

Strelec Conway

---

As always I will finish off with a poem to delight my fans, it's called 'The Wedding'

Nobby Barnes is suited up, he’s left the terrace grime,
To marry Park End Carol and start their golden time.

OneBoro mods are ushers, dressed in waistcoats sharp and red,
Politely banning hecklers before the vows are said.

But standing by the altar, with the rings and steady hand,
Is Robin Johnson, Best Man, the finest in the land.

He’s checked the stats and figures, he’s analysed the form,
And swears this match is built to last through every Riverside storm

Then Carol makes her entrance, and the room falls soft and still,
A vision from Park End, with a heart no scout could fill.

She walks toward her Nobby, through the sea of red and white,
The greatest signing Barnes has made, the future shining bright

Oneboro 4 - Poem 0

good stuff - after our form and drop from the top it would be typical to see a win during this clash. had Ipswich to lose to Pompey and then to Boro.

though I'm sure Philogene started against Norwich as he scored that very early, dubious penalty!

Up the F*cking Boro...we live in hope...for now.

If we have 1 of Whittaker or Castledine that will at least give us more options than we've been afforded off the bench than in recent games.
It would be lovely if Hackney is fit for this one, but the pragmatist in me feels if it's 50/50 we'd be better suited to not risking him.

Do you just use AI for everything, Nobs?

Edited April 15Apr 15 by Denzel Zanzibar

Head says loss, heart says loss.

Have a good Sunday folks, it's only football at the end of the day.

I feel this is a must win game...

Brynn

Ayling Fry Malanda

Brittain Browne Morris Bangura

Hansen McGree

Conway

Nothing even to do with automatic promotion, but a win would be a massive boost for our playoff hopes, to show we aren't done yet and can still mix it with the top teams.

Well it's nearly six weeks since we last won a game. Six week!!! It really is about time we won another one so Ipswich will do nicely.

1 hour ago, Uncle-Festa said:

Brynn

Ayling Fry Malanda

Brittain Browne Morris Bangura

Hansen McGree

Conway

Bangura out for one of the other LBs and i think thats the team.

Mad how Conway has been generally turd but you look around and just hope he has a good game this time

Boro win to keep up the false optimism

1 hour ago, Plastic Goat said:

Well it's nearly six weeks since we last won a game. Six week!!! It really is about time we won another one so Ipswich will do nicely.

thats insane hahaha.

3 hours ago, Denzel Zanzibar said:

Do you just use AI for everything, Nobs?

Are you implying Park End Carol is an online AI generated Chatbot?