THE OPPOSITION
Middlesbrough have kept themselves very much in the promotion shake-up this campaign, without really being able to string a set of results together to crack into the top six.
They won just two of their opening seven games but, since then, they've been no lower than tenth in the table. However, they've also only spent a total of 14 days inside the Play-Off places all campaign.
Their 0-0 draw at Norwich City last time out was their first draw since they came to Brentford in early November. In between they won seven and lost eight to show their inconsistent nature this term.
Boro's first 11 games of the campaign saw them score just nine times before finding the net 19 times during their next 11. 2021 has seen goals harder to come by once again, Warnock's side registering just two, both coming against Nottingham Forest, in their last five league games. They did also find the net in their 2-1 Emirates FA Cup defeat at the Brentford Community Stadium early last month.
To improve on that record, the experienced manager sought to bolster his attacking options during the January window by adding Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (Cardiff City), Yannick Bolasie (Everton) (pictured above), and Neeskens Kebano to the squad, as well as signing Preston North End full-back Darnell Fisher.
TEAM NEWS
Thomas Frank is hopeful of having Josh Dasilva and Bryan Mbeumo back after minor issues but Christian Norgaard (ankle) and Emiliano Marcondes (back) remain absent alongside Charlie Goode (illness), Pontus Jansson (ankle), Luka Racic (back), and Shandon Baptiste (knee).
Neeskens Kebano and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing are both expected to be involved tomorrow following their late moves while Yannick Bolasie came straight in to start last weekend at Norwich City. Boro will be without Marcus Browne and Marcus Tavernier (both knee) while Dael Fry is a doubt after picking up a knock against Norwich last weekend. Anfernee Dijksteel has missed the last three following an operation on an abscess but Ashley Fletcher and Johnny Howson have made returns in recent weeks.
THE MANAGER
Neil Warnock, who turned 72 in December, has a wealth of managerial experience, having taken charge of 15 other clubs prior to arriving on Teesside. He first made the move into the dugout at Gainsborough Trinity in 1980, following a playing career that saw him make 327 career league appearances at eight different clubs. Warnock has now earned promotion on eight separate occasions - a British football record. He famously lead Notts County to successive Play-Off victories to reach the First Division in 1991 and took Sheffield United (2005/06), QPR (2010/11), and Cardiff City (2017/18) to the Premier League.
PRE-MATCH VIEWS
⚖ Darren Bond will be the man in charge tomorrow afternoon
🆚 Phil Spencer of Bonkers for Boro previews our visitors
LAST TIME OUT
HOW TO FOLLOW
This weekend's game is exclusively on iFollow Brentford, but there is no VIP access for frozen Season Ticket and Premium Seat Members.
The only way to give us your support for this crucial clash is with a £10 Match Pass (£7 international fans)
Buy your Match Pass
Given travel restrictions, commentary for tomorrow's game will be provided by BBC Radio Tees