Blackburn Rovers are still yet to win a game under new manager Valerin Ismael. To compound this, Middlesbrough have avoided defeat in five of their last six matches.

Blackburn’s home fans intend to protest at the fixture, with Head of Football Operations and former-striker Rudy Gestede and other executives asked to not attend any further games by Rovers fans.

The numbers don't lie either. Middlesbrough have better xG and xGA totals than Blackburn over the course of the season.

There have been 29 head-to-head matches between these clubs since a match went over 2.5 goals, let alone 3.5. This was a 3-2 to Blackburn back in 2006.

There have been two goals total across the teams’ last three matches in the last year. Boro have also not been prolific on the road in recent weeks, with their last two away matches totalling one goal.

Blackburn have scored only three times in five matches with Ismael in charge, a sign of the recent downward turn at Ewood Park

Iheanacho is averaging 3.14 shots per 90 over Middlesbrough’s last 30 Championship matches.

He took five shots in Middlesbrough’s last match against Oxford.

The Nigerian has hit this line in his last four matches.

A potential replacement for Iheanacho is Morgan Whittaker, who is a high-volume shot taker, averaging 3.12 shots per 90 in the Championship

Middlesbrough concede 6.21 corners on average in the Championship this season.

Boro have conceded over five or more corners in ten of their last 13 matches.

Blackburn have had over five or more corners in three of their last four Championship home matches.

Rovers average 5.69 corners at home in the Championship this season.

Hackney averages 1.58 shots per 90 over Middlesbrough’s last 30 Championship matches.

This actually goes up to 1.75 per 90 when playing away from home.

He hit five shots in Middlesbrough’s last match against Oxford.

Hackney is also a regular set-piece taker for Boro, meaning a shot from a free-kick is a viable option on Friday night.

Dijksteel has had three cautions in his last seven matches.

He is playing the full 90 minutes in every match at the moment.

He averages 0.27 yellow cards per game in the Championship, the highest rate of any Middlesbrough player.

The Suriname international is tasked with keeping tabs on Lewis Travis, who is averaging 1.78 fouls drawn per 90 in the Championship this season.

Gueye averages 2.81 shots per 90 this season. This increases to 3.4 shots per 90 at home.

Gueye has hit 18 shots in his last five matches at Ewood Park. This bet has come in in six of Gueye’s last nine starts, with the Senegalese international primed to start in the lead attacking role Friday night.

This has been a winner in each of Blackburn’s last four home games.

Blackburn average 5.69 corners at home this season, compared to 3.92 conceded.

Middlesbrough have lost the corner count in six of their last seven.

Middlesbrough concede 6.21 corners per Championship match in 24/25, compared to winning 4.21.