Huddersfield Town v Middlesbrough: Good start considered key to Town’s chances

Both sides require the points for wholly different reasons in the pair’s first competitive meeting at the John Smith’s Stadium since Boxing Day 1997.

Town’s pressing requirement is getting enough wins to secure their Championship status for another season and, to help do that, goalkeeper Smithies acknowledges they must up the ante at home from the first whistle.

Town have failed to find the net during the first half in their last eight encounters on home soil.

If they need any added incentive ahead of tonight’s encounter with play-off candidates Boro, they need only look at the Teessiders’ recent vital statistics away from home.

Tony Mowbray’s side have failed to win in their last seven outings away from the Riverside – suffering 4-1 and 4-0 defeats at Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town respectively so far in 2013, which has yielded just two Championship victories in 10 matches.

While Boro head into tonight’s game on the back of an impressive 2-1 triumph over leaders Cardiff City, Smithies detects a vulnerable side to Boro on their travels and is calling on sixth-from-bottom Town to exploit it in the first of two key matches on home soil, with Charlton Athletic arriving on Saturday.

Smithies said: “The next two games are a massive opportunity and we will look to pick up as many points as possible.

“Middlesbrough got a good result at the weekend, but in general, they have been on a poor run of form and I think Charlton is a winnable game at home as well – having beaten them already this season.

“Middlesbrough have lost a lot of games recently and everything does not change after one result. They will still have doubts in their minds and if we can start well on the front foot, it could unsettle them. We need to put them under pressure and put some more doubts in their minds.”

Town boss Mark Robins will be without eight-goal top-scorer James Vaughan for tonight’s encounter, with the loan striker starting a two-match ban after amassing 10 bookings. Alan Lee and Lee Novak may step up.

Defender Anthony Gerrard, who hobbled off during Saturday’s 4-1 loss at Brighton, is doubtful after the return of an Achilles problem.

Last six games: Huddersfield Town LWDLLW, Middlesbrough WLLDLW.

Last time: Huddersfield Town 0 Middlesbrough 1; December 26, 1997; Division One.

Referee: S Attwell (Nuneaton).