Middlesbrough U21 face Brighton U21 at Heritage Park, Bishop Auckland, County Durham on Sunday, Jan 24 at 2:00 PM in a basement battle that neither side can afford to lose. Both clubs are deep in the relegation picture in the Premier League 2, and defeat here could prove costly come the end of the season.

Middlesbrough U21 come into this fixture out of form (0W 2L recently). Brighton U21, meanwhile, arrive out of form (1W 2L recently) — actually the better-performing side in recent weeks.

Head-to-head records offer little separation — Middlesbrough U21 and Brighton U21 have split their 2 meetings almost evenly (0W–1D–1W). Their last encounter ended in a 1–1 draw. These two tend to produce goals — averaging 2.5 per game in recent meetings.

Verdict: Little separates these two on form or history. Home advantage could be the deciding factor — a narrow Middlesbrough U21 win or a draw looks most likely.