MansionBet Match Preview: Middlesbrough (H)

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Barnsley may have halted City's winning start to the 2020/21 Championship yet Dean Holden's men can return to Ashton Gate with their unbeaten record still in tact.

A last-gasp penalty - awarded in controversial circumstances - scored by Cauley Woodrow meant a share of the spoils at Oakwell on Saturday, as the Tykes battled back to earn a fifth consecutive 2-2 draw in this fixture on Yorkshire soil.

After falling behind to an early header, City had come flying out out of the traps in the second half with goals from Jack Hunt and a first for Tyreeq Bakinson showcasing the kind of performance levels Dean Holden is demanding of the group.

And while they were pegged back to draw via that final kick of the game, there were plenty of pleasing signs. But in terms of the result, it was viewed as City's first "bump on the nose" in the league and Tuesday night's encounter at home to Middlesbrough is seen as a chance to bounce back with three points.

City are still top of the Championship in these early stages and come up against a Neil Warnock side which has struggled for find consistency so far.

An opening night defeat to Watford, followed by a second round Carabao Cup exit to Barnsley, has been followed up with with three draws and a win. That only win of the league so far came against Barnsley where a late Woodrow penalty on that occasion proved too little too late.

Yet the experienced Warnock has already been on the receiving end of defeat to Holden, with the Robins head coach, then working in an interim basis, steering City to a 3-1 win at the Riverside during the 2019/20 restart.