Hull drew their last three games but they are still high in the overall standings thanks to the great start to the season. The Tigers will try to end the run of six games without a win and take all three points. Middlesbrough are incredibly inconsistent this season, which makes their games very difficult to predict.

The big derby will be played on Saturday at the Riverside. Middlesbrough ended their good run of results by losing to Bolton last week but they will have another chance to make things right. Newcastle, on the other hand, held on at Stamford Bridge to earn a goal-less draw but they are still in the relegation zone. The Magpies will try to win this match and start the climb up the Premiership table.

Both teams were lucky to win last weekend but they have now moved to the top part of the table and will enter this match in high spirits. Everton snatched the third successive wins, and all were achieved thanks to late goals. The Toffees will try to score a bit earlier this time but they will certainly be satisfied if the trend continues. Boro profited from two defensive mistakes by Aston Villa and they will try to extend their unbeaten run to five game.

Aston Villa’s good run of results came to an end last Monday, as they lost to Newcastle, but the Villans managed to beat Slavia Prague in the UEFA Cup, thus returning to winning ways. The hosts are hot favourites to win this game against Middlesbrough, the team that managed to avoid defeat in the last three Premier League games but their good run is likely to end at Villa Park.

Middlesbrough enters this game on the back of two good results last week, having taken a point in Blackburn before beating Manchester City. As expected West Ham lost the match at Old Trafford and their losing run now stretches to four games. Zola will not abandon his attacking approach and West Ham will be looking to win this game.

Middlesbrough produced the first decent performance from the start of the season but that was not enough to take all three points against Blackburn. We are positive that it was one off result and they will not be able to repeat that against City. The Citizens easily defeated Stoke and this is a good opportunity to extend the winning run.

Paul Ince has done a good job in rebuilding the team and the Rovers are coping well with the departure of their most influential player David Bentley. They drew with Bolton last weekend and they want to win this match and climb up the table. Middlesbrough has been very poor this season and they were trashed by Chelsea in their last match.

Middlesbrough will enter this game on the back of their first away win of the season, against Wigan and they will be looking to surprise the leaders. Chelsea easily won the game against Aston Villa despite missing few regulars and the Blues showed they would hard to dislodge from the top.

After great performances at the start of the season Wigan has started climbing up the table, as they defeated Manchester City last weekend. The team will have another home game, and they will be keen to win it. Middlesbrough suffered their fourth defeat this season, as they lost to WBA at home, and the team is very close to the relegation zone.

Middlesbrough missed the chance to win their last league match, and they were punished for that. The team traveled to Old Trafford for Carling Cup game on Tuesday, and again lost the game thanks to two late goals. The Baggies lost the Midlands derby against Aston Villa, and they will need to pick up at least a point to stay above the relegation zone.