Burnley v Middlesbrough: Turf Moor trip offers Middlesbrough swift chance to forget Eagles defeat

Sixth-placed Boro head to Turf Moor reeling after a heavy 4-1 loss at rivals Crystal Palace, their sixth defeat in their past seven Championship matches.

A number of sides just below them, most notably Brighton and Blackburn Rovers are scenting blood, with tonight’s opponents also mindful that they can move within four points of the faltering Teesside club, with a game in hand, if they triumph at Turf Moor.

Thankful for small mercies that Boro have an opportunity to quickly get back on track after a shambolic showing against the Eagles at Selhurst Park, Mowbray said: “Each time we lose, that is another opportunity gone. But I think it is good for the group that there is another game coming up.

“We are disappointed, but we have another opportunity on Tuesday to put it right.

“We will dust ourselves down and we will go again at Burnley,” he said.

“They didn’t play on Saturday whereas we’ve had the intensity of last Tuesday and then travelled down to London on Friday and now we’ve got to go to Burnley, is that an advantage, for them? I don’t know.

“But we have to remain positive now and if we can win seven or eight more games, that could give us enough points to get into a play-off position.”

Boro are expected to be without the defensive quartet of Stuart Parnaby, Jonathan Woodgate, Justin Hoyte and Seb Hines as well as top-scorer Scott McDonald.

But striker Curtis Main – who netted the winner against Leeds United seven days ago before being sent off soon after for two bookable offences – returns from a one-match ban.

Sam Vokes is battling to be fit for tonight’s clash due to a foot injury, but Clarets chief Sean Dyche is confident he will be fit. Defenders Michael Duff and Ben Mee are out.

Last six games: Burnley LDLWWL; Middlesbrough LWLLWL.

Referee: K Wright (Cambridgeshire).

Last time: Burnley 0 Middlesbrough 2; Sat, September 10, 2011; The Championship.