We're not where we want to be, we know that, but we've got to dig deep.Phil Parkinson, Wrexham manager BBC Sport

Phil Parkinson shut the dressing-room door this week. After Friday's 1-0 defeat at Sheffield United, Wrexham sat down and watched the whole first half together. "I think there's decent honesty in the room," the manager said. "Sometimes the door's got to be closed and we've got to get some honesty within the group."

The numbers explain why. Wrexham have lost four of their last seven and have now lost twice in a row without scoring: 2-0 at Blackburn, then 1-0 at Bramall Lane, where they did not manage a shot on target until stoppage time. Three wins from 13 league games leaves them 18th, 14 points behind tonight's visitors.

Middlesbrough have not lost a Championship game since 22 August, a run of 11 league games, and have scored 30 goals in 13. They have already beaten Wrexham once this season, 1-0 in the League Cup in August, although both league meetings last season were drawn.

Kim Hellberg is ready to rotate, with a trip to Watford less than 72 hours later. "If I don't use the squad now, when am I going to use it?" he told BBC Radio Tees. Top scorer Will Lankshear came off against Charlton, but Hellberg put it down to cramp.

Wrexham are, in Parkinson's word, "depleted". Sam Smith hurt his knee at Sheffield United and faces a "significant period" out, possibly needing surgery, which could open the door for Bailey Cadamarteri. Josh Windass's ankle has flared up again, and Nathan Broadhead will only rejoin part of training on Thursday.

There is hope at home. Wrexham's last game at the Racecourse was a 4-1 win over Preston. "They're a good side, but they're beatable," Parkinson said of Boro. "The Racecourse atmosphere is huge for us."

Compiled from BBC Sport, Roundtable, BBC Sport, Sports Mole, Football Guide.

We know and respect them, but we don't fear them.Brian Barry-Murphy, Cardiff City head coach Cardiff City FC

West Ham arrive in South Wales in turmoil. Nuno Espírito Santo was sacked with immediate effect on Tuesday after back-to-back defeats, 3-2 to Southampton and 3-1 to West Brom, and the BBC reports the club have approached Scott Parker. Mark Noble, Steve Potts and Gerard Prenderville take temporary charge tonight.

Even so, the relegated Hammers sit eighth, four points off the automatic places, and their attack is the division's most potent. Their 33 goals in 13 games is at least three more than anyone else. They also have the Championship's only unbeaten away record (W3 D3) and won their last two away games without conceding, 6-0 at Lincoln and 1-0 at Swansea.

Cardiff, promoted from League One, are 17th and five points above the drop zone. They have won only two points from seven away games, but they are one of four sides unbeaten at home (W3 D3), and the club says that is ten league games unbeaten at the Cardiff City Stadium. They have won their last three home games.

Brian Barry-Murphy is not intimidated. "We know and respect them, but we don't fear them," he said. "All of these teams have obvious qualities and obvious wealth, but we believe in our own club, our own players and our own supporters." He also praised the new pitch: "It hasn't been easy and it hasn't been cheap."

Injuries are the worry. Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Wolves left knocks across the defence. Isaak Davies is out for four weeks with a hamstring injury, Gabriel Osho is suspended, and Perry Ng, Alex Robertson and Will Fish are being assessed.

The sides last met in March 2019, when Cardiff won 2-0.

Compiled from Sports Mole, Cardiff City FC, BBC Sport, Read West Ham.