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We now appear to be at the do-or-die stage of the season for Middlesbrough in their quest for promotion.
Expectations were high at the Riverside Stadium going into 2024/25, but hopes of reaching the Premier League are slowly dissipating.
Middlesbrough fans have given up on escaping the Championship despite Hull City doing them a favour in their meeting with Coventry City earlier this week.
Coventy and West Brom now clash on Friday afternoon, meaning at least one of Boro’s top-six rivals are going to drop points.
However, it’s became clear Middlesbrough can’t afford to focus on those around them before they sort their own form out.
Two wins in a row pushed the Teessiders back into play-off contention, but back-to-back defeats to Millwall and Leeds United have dampened the mood in the North East.
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Riley McGree needs to start for Middlesbrough vs Plymouth
Next up for the Reds is a 3pm Good Friday meeting against relegation-threatened Plymouth Argyle.
Despite sitting 24th in the table, Plymouth could set a record against Middlesbrough, who have really struggled against the Greens recently.
The previous meeting between the two teams earlier in 2024/25 ended in a 3-3 stalemate – not the first or the last time Boro’s defence has been exposed this term.
As a result, it would make a lot of sense for Michael Carrick to hand Riley McGree a rare start this week.
McGree improves Middlesbrough whenever he starts matches, but the Australian has been down the pecking order since his return from injury.
But given how badly Boro struggled to deal with Plymouth’s attacking threat last time out, it makes sense for him to be selected on April 18.
How Middlesbrough could line up vs Plymouth
The obvious way to set up with McGree, who has five Championship assists this season, back in the team is with him starting on the left of the front four.
This would put Finn Azaz back into his favoured number 10 role, where the Crystal Palace transfer target has excelled.
It does, however, leave Carrick with a difficult decision to make regarding who to start on the right wing.
Delano Burgzorg could play out of position on that flank, while there may be a start for former Plymouth ace Morgan Whittaker.