Good afternoon and welcome to Eurosport's LIVE text commentary of the bottom of the table clash between Middlesbrough and Swansea. Too early to label today's match a six-pointer? Well, Boro will go exactly six points ahead of the Swans if they can record only their third home victory of the season.

Aitor Karanka (Middlesbrough): "It's an important game but I don't want to put pressure on as it's December and we are doing well. The performances have been good playing in the way we have, we will score goals. The main thing for us is to be as organised as a team. Swansea score goals but we have to take advantage because they concede as well."

Bob Bradley (Swansea): "You look at the table, and games against teams that are closer to you do take on more importance. But I think we can all agree that every game is massive for us right now. We understand that the start to the season we have had, and the league position we are in, make it extra important every time we step on to the field."

This afternoon marks the start of a crucial run of games for Swansea whose next four fixtures pit Bob Bradley’s side against West Ham, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Hull. The American simply needs to find a way to stop his defence leaking so many goals over the festive period. The Swans conceded three goals during their last visit to the Riverside five years ago - but the travelling supporters weren’t complaining one bit after Craig Beattie’s late goal secured a 4-3 victory.

Middlesbrough’s defensive capabilities are well known but it’s their lack of attacking threat which causes most concern for the Teessiders. Aitor Karanka’s side are the lowest scorers in the Premier League having scored only 13 times in 16 games and anxiety will only continue to grow if the hosts are unable to break down Swansea’s leaky defence which has conceded 34 times thus far.

The visitors have also made a single alteration with Modou Barrow replacing Jefferson Montero out wide – the same starting XI that played in last weekend's victory over Sunderland.

Aitor Karanka has made one change to his side that were on the receiving end of a 3-0 home defeat to Liverpool on Wednesday as key player Gaston Ramirez returns to the starting XI and takes the place of Adama Traore in midfield. Centre-back Calum Chambers has also been passed fit.

The teams are in...

Middlesbrough: Valdes, Barragan, Chambers, Gibson, Fabio, Clayton, de Roon, Forshaw, Fischer, Ramirez, Negredo.

Swansea: Fabianski, Rangel, Amat, Mawson, Taylor, Britton, Fulton, Barrow, Sigurdsson, Routledge, Llorente.