Meet the opposition | Middlesbrough
As Swansea City prepare to take on Middlesbrough, we take a closer look at the Teessiders.
WHAT'S THEIR STORY?
Having spent all bar one season between 1995 and 2009 in the Premier League - with a best finish of seventh in 2005 - Middlesbrough have been in the Championship for 14 of the 15 campaigns since.
A brief return to the top-flight in 2016 saw them struggle in front of goal, coming straight back down with only five wins and 27 goals, the lowest tally recorded during that season.
They reached the play-offs in 2018 and 2023, and will be hoping to return this season after missing out last term.
Boro famously reached the UEFA Cup final in 2006 while, in a successful 2004-05 season, they secured League Cup glory by beating Bolton in Cardiff.
HOW'S THEIR FORM?
Boro endured a challenging start to 2025, but there are signs the Teessiders are getting back on track.
Having been in the promotion hunt all season, Carrick's men suffered an unexpected slump in form when they lost five league games in a row.
However, they have beaten Stoke City and Derby County in their last two games, and remain firmly in the play-off hunt despite their run of defeats.
WHO'S THE GAFFER?
Michael Carrick. The former West Ham, Tottenham and Manchester United midfielder is enjoying his second senior managerial position having previously been caretaker boss at Old Trafford, and led Boro to the play-offs after taking over from Chris Wilder during the 2022-23 campaign.
Born in Wallsend, Carrick joined West Ham’s academy and came through the ranks to make over 150 appearances for the Irons before joining Tottenham in 2004.
Two years later he went to United, and enjoyed a trophy-laden 12 years that saw him win five Premier League titles, one FA Cup, two League Cups, one Champions League, one Europa League and a Club World Cup before hanging up his boots in 2018.
He remained with the Red Devils to join Jose Mourinho’s coaching staff, and stayed on when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer replaced the Portuguese.
After a spell as caretaker manager, Carrick left the club in December 2021, joining Boro in October 2022 and making an immediate impact.
WHO'S THE CAPTAIN?
Experienced midfielder Jonny Howson took over the armband from striker Britt Assombalonga in the early stages of the 2021-22 campaign and has been club captain ever since.
The 36-year-old has made more than 600 league appearances across a career taking in lengthy spells with Leeds United, Norwich City and now Boro.
Howson made the move to Teesside in 2017, and has played in a number of positions – including centre-back – during his stint at the Riverside, underlining his versatility and nous. He has made over 330 appearances for them in total.
WHO ARE THE KEY MEN?
Finn Azaz
Midfielder Finn Azaz has been outstanding for Boro this season, and he leads the Championship for goal involvements having racked up double figures for goals and assists, with 10 apiece at the time of writing.
The Republic of Ireland international was first snapped up by West Bromwich Albion as a nine-year-old and progressed through their academy before having a productive campaign on loan at Cheltenham Town.
That attracted the interest of Aston Villa, and he made the move to the Villans in 2021 and was soon loaned out to Newport County for the 2021-22 season.
His excellent performances for the Exiles saw him named League Two Young Player of the Year at the EFL awards, and he spent the next season and a half making a positive impression with Plymouth Argyle.
That prompted Boro to move for his services, sealing a permanent move in January 2024, and he has been a key player ever since.
Tommy Conway
Young striker Tommy Conway was a high-profile signing last summer, arriving for a reported £4.5million fee from Bristol City.
He has got 10 goals to his name this term, and his importance has only increased since the January departure of Emmanuel Latte Lath to MLS side Atlanta United.
The Taunton-born Scotland international came through the academy ranks with Bristol City, and made his senior debut for the Robins towards the end of the 2020-21 season.
The 2022-23 campaign saw him make the breakthrough to become a regular, with his industry and pace making him a nuisance for opposition defenders.
He scored 20 Championship goals in 82 outings for City, and also came to wider attention when he scored against top-flight West Ham United in the original tie and the replay when Bristol knocked the Hammers out of the Emirates FA Cup last season.
Hayden Hackney
Boro academy product Hayden Hackney joined the club at under-10 level. After becoming a mainstay during the 2022-23 season, Hayden carried on his form into the 2023-24 campaign, featuring in 21 games for Michael Carrick.
Hackney managed to get the only goal of the game in front of a sold-out Riverside in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea last season and his impressively consistent levels of performance have seen him tipped for a very bright future.
Still only 22, he recently brought up a century of appearances for the Teessiders.