By around 2pm on Saturday, Middlesbrough will know the identity of their opponents in the play-off semi-finals. With a game against Norwich City impossible because of the two clubs’ points totals, Chief Sports Writer Scott Wilson looks at the four sides that could line up against the Teessiders

 

IPSWICH (5th - 78pts)

 

Final game: Blackburn (a)

Last ten games: DLWWDLWWDW

This season’s results: Ipswich 2 Middlesbrough 0, Middlesbrough 4 Ipswich 1

Odds to make play-offs: 1-16

 

The Northern Echo: FOCUSED ON THE BALL: David McGoldrick of Ipswich Town chips the ball past the attentions of Middlesbrough's Milos Veljkovic of Middlesbrough. Picture: Ray Lawrence/TGSPHOTO

 

Ipswich only need a point from their final game to guarantee a play-off place, and even a defeat would see them finish in the top six unless Brentford and Wolves both win by sizeable margins.

Mick McCarthy’s side have spent the vast majority of the season in a play-off spot, and while automatic promotion has not really been a realistic target since the turn of the year, the Tractor Boys have long been expected to be part of the end-of-season shake up.

Their two main strengths are their organisation, which owes much to their manager’s wealth of experience in the Championship, and the attacking threat posed by Daryl Murphy, whose 25 Championship goals make him the division’s leading scorer.

McCarthy’s experience extends to the play-offs, although his record of three defeats from three with Millwall, Sunderland and Wolves hardly makes for inspired reading.

Portman Road is never an easy place to visit – only Boro can match Ipswich’s record of 15 home wins - and the Teessiders were found wanting when they travelled to Suffolk shortly before Christmas for a game that resulted in a comprehensive home victory.

The tables were turned in March though, as Boro swept Ipswich aside at the Riverside with a four-goal salvo that showcased Patrick Bamford at his agile and predatory best.

 

DERBY (6th – 77pts)

 

Final game: Reading (h)

Last ten games: DDLLDWDWDD

This season’s results: Middlesbrough 2 Derby 0, Derby 0 Middlesbrough 1

Odds to make play-offs: 1-10

 

The Northern Echo:

 

Still considered the favourites to win the division as recently as two months ago, Derby’s nosedive in form sees them scrambling around on the final day just to ensure they are involved in the play-offs.

In truth, there isn’t a lot of doubt about them making it, as their goal difference is so superior to their rivals that they only need a point in their final game at home to Reading to guarantee a place in the top six. If they lose to the Royals, they will drop out of the top six if either Brentford or Wolves win.

Steve McClaren’s side swept pretty much all before them in the first half of the season, but their recent form is wretched – just two wins from their last 12 games – and they will head into the play-offs with no momentum at all.

Their struggles started when they lost strike duo Chris Martin and Darren Bent at the same time, but the pair’s return has done little to revive them with Martin in particular looking a shadow of the player who was so effective in the early months of the campaign.

The memory of losing to QPR in last season’s play-off final might have left some mental scars, and if they were to face Boro, Derby would also have to deal with the psychological impact of having suffered two defeats to the Teessiders already this season.

Last month’s game at the Ipro Stadium witnessed one of Boro’s most clinical away displays of the season, with Bamford’s slide-rule second-half strike proving decisive.

 

BRENTFORD (7th – 75pts)

 

Final game: Wigan (h)

Last ten games: DLWDWDDLDW

This season’s results: Middlesbrough 4 Brentford 0, Brentford 0 Middlesbrough 1

Odds to make play-offs: 4-1

 

The Northern Echo:

 

Brentford have been the Championship’s surprise package for the majority of the season, but their form has stuttered significantly since it was announced that manager Mark Warburton would not be remaining in position beyond the end of the campaign.

As a result, they head into the final weekend with their play-off hopes hanging by a thread. They have to beat already-relegated Wigan to have any chance of forcing their way into the top six, but even then, they will need either Derby to lose, or Ipswich to lose with a three-goal swing in goal difference.

They have only won two of their last seven matches, and the fluency that characterised their performances in the early stages of the season has dissipated somewhat over the last couple of months.

Brentford’s away form is one of their greatest strengths, with the Bees having won 11 matches away from Griffin Park, a record only bettered by Watford, Bournemouth and Norwich. That reflects the strength of their team spirit, which is a carryover from last season’s successful promotion from League One.

Andre Gray’s pace and power in attack is a key asset, but Boro successfully negated Brentford’s threat in both of the club’s meetings this season and would fancy their chances should they meet again in the play-offs.

Boro put four past Brentford as they claimed a comprehensive victory on Teesside in September, and displayed impressive resolve as they ground out a one-goal victory at Griffin Park in January.

 

WOLVES (8th – 75pts)

 

Final game: Millwall (h)

Last ten games: DDWWWWLLDW

This season’s results: Wolves 2 Middlesbrough 0, Middlesbrough 2 Wolves 1

Odds to make play-offs: 16-1

 

The Northern Echo:

 

Wolves were still in the bottom half of the table at the start of December, but they have clawed their way into a position where they head into the final game of the campaign with a chance of scraping into the play-offs.

Admittedly, the chance is a slight one, with Wolves having to beat already-relegated Millwall and hope that Derby and Brentford both lose. A Derby defeat and a Brentford draw would also be good enough.

In fairness, just being involved in the play-off picture is something of a success for Kenny Jackett’s side, who have stabilised successfully since last season’s promotion from League One.

Their chief strength lies in attack, with Benik Afobe’s 32 goals (more than half of which were scored on loan at MK Dons in the first half of the season) making him the most effective forward in the Football League.

Nouha Dicko and Bakary Sakho also form part of a potent forward line, but Wolves’ inconsistency is their Achilles heel and is the prime reason why they are likely to fall short on Saturday.

If they were to scrape in, Boro would have to improve on their lacklustre showing when they lost 2-0 at Molineux in October, a result they remedied when they won 2-1 on Teesside earlier this month.