It's arguably the biggest game in the Championship this weekend when two promotion hopefuls meet with one another at the Riverside Stadium with Middlesbrough set to welcome Watford to the North East with only three places keeping them apart.
Boro's rise under Michael Carrick since just before the World Cup has been nothing short of incredible is beginning to resemble a bit of what Steve Cooper did with Nottingham Forest last season by taking his side from the relegation zone to the playoff spots. Carrick's men did lose 2-0 to Sunderland last time out to close the gap to one point on the ninth-placed Black Cats. Dael Fry was also sent off that day and now misses this game. Boro have won 12 times now in the league but still sit with 10 losses to because of their terrible start to the season.
Boro last beat Millwall in the league and were hammered by Brighton & Hove Albion 5-1 at the Riverside Stadium back in early January in the FA Cup. The North East side previously went on a three-game winning run in the Championship, beating Wigan Athletic, Blackburn Rovers and Birmingham City.
As for Watford they are up to third after an unbeaten run in the Championship during January. It has seen Slaven Bilic's men beat Norwich City, Blackpool and draw with Rotherham United last time out.
The Hornets are still 13 points behind Sheffield United in second and the two-horse race for promotion through the automatic spots is unlikely to see a third join it with just a big points difference already. Watford are still ahead of Blackburn Rovers in fourth by one point and above Luton Town in seventh by two points but have played a game less.