Grant Leadbitter’s return from suspension is the only change from the side which lost 2-1 at Watford on Saturday as the Blues look to stretch their home winning run to six games against Middlesbrough this evening. Andy Drury is the man to drop out.

Boro make four changes from the team which drew 1-1 with Bristol City at the weekend with Merouane Zemmama, Kevin Thomson, Bart Ogbeche and Lukas Jutkietwicz dropping out and Richard Smallwood, Julia Arca, Barry Robson and Marvin Emnes coming into the team. Midfielder Malaury Martin is left out due to a family bereavement. Full match preview.

Town: McCarthy, Edwards, Smith, Delaney, Cresswell, Leadbitter, Bowyer, Emmanuel-Thomas, Martin, Murphy, Chopra. Subs: Lee-Barrett, Sonko, Stevenson, Drury, Scotland.

Middlesbrough: Steele, Bates, Hoyte, Hines, Bennett, Bailey, Robson, Arca, Smallwood, Hammill, Emnes. Subs: Jutkiewicz, Ogbeche, Thomson, Zemmama, McMahon.

Photo: Action Images

DerbyBlue76 added 19:52 - Mar 27 Can someone please explain why no Carson or Hyam - if they are going to be good enough in the future surely we need to play them. Our season is over so why not use these games as opportunities to develop young players
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irishtim added 20:10 - Mar 27 Im confused also DErbyblue76. Bowyer & leadbitter ?? Im worried already
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fourth added 20:45 - Mar 27 Drury has always played better than Bowyer, who used to be an amazing player. I'm surprised. The manager seems more interested in justifying high salaries.
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newtownfan13 added 20:46 - Mar 27 yes totally agree with derbyblue76 and irishtim, it would appear that Paul Jewell does not like playing the youth as he plays 'experienced players' but how does he expect the youth to get experience if he does not play them, as you say derbyblue76 our season is over so why not let the youth play out the remainder of the games........and you never know, with their pace and determination we may even climb up the table a few more places before the end of the season. Bring on the youth Jewell and show us what your signings can do........

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Keaneish added 21:53 - Mar 27 Bored of all your same old rhetoric! Have any of you considered that with good experienced pro's like Barry Robson pulling the strings in the middle of the park for 'Boro a more experienced head like Bowyer might have been the best tactical option pre-match? Why would a manager justify salaries fourth!? Who is he justifying them to? The chairman? The owner? Himself? Nonsense comment with no substance...

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Fartman added 22:07 - Mar 27 Grant is in a different league than Hyam, so stop moaning at him not playing. All credit to Hyam for coming in and performing when Leadbitter, Bowyer and Bullard went of the boil, but I still think it's important that we play our best available team. The younger players just need to stake their claims in training, showing a hunger so that the manager has no choice.
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Keaneish added 22:12 - Mar 27 Not sure about different league fartman but agree with you. Good to see Leadbitter starting to show some form. Hyam's getting good experience whether starting, on the bench and coming on or battling to get in the side. It's all relative and at his age it's good to give him spells in and out of the side. Those saying 'play all youth, get rid of the older ones' don't know what they're talking about.

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Lightningboy added 22:43 - Mar 27 Jewell's got his favourites guys...
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WarkyWonderLand added 23:53 - Mar 27 Look back to who turned form around against experienced west ham side. Is bowyer and leadboots our future? Both may not be here next season.
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Keaneish added 01:38 - Mar 28 Point taken WarkyWonderland but Robson covers more ground than anyone in the Championship and i guess PJ sees Bowyer and Leadbitter as our two fittest midfielders. He has the opta stats after each game so i reckon this was his thinking. That said, i'm all for Bowyer being given a rest now.
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itfc1981 added 07:21 - Mar 28 Who wants to defend Bowyer's selection now for the third game running he has been overwhelmed in midfield!
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DerbyBlue76 added 12:20 - Mar 28 My concern though is that the focus is wrong. This season is over so we need to be thinking about next one and doing things now that will help for next season. Why not use the next few weeks to experiment and try things out and learn so that we can hit next season running
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