Middlesbrough face Birmingham City tonight as Tony Pulis takes on his Riverside predecessor Garry Monk.

Football has a funny way of often throwing up these kinds of scenarios and with Monk joining the Blues over the weekend after Steve Cotterill was sacked, he now faces his former side.

Certainly, he'll be looking to get one over his former team but Boro are challenging for the top six and Pulis will be demanding no room for sentiment from his players.

He should, then, be a game between two sides looking to prove a point this evening and so, with that in mind, here is the XI we think the Welsh manager should play in order to get the three points...

Randolph will continue in goal.

Shotton should start to face his old side and look to cause issues down the right.

Ayala will aim to grapple with Sam Gallagher.

Gibson is bound to start in this one as he remains a mainstay in the team.

George Friend will also provide a strong presence for the Blues to try and beat.

Howson will look to get up and down the pitch and burst through the Blues' midfield.

Besic will look to combat the threat Jota poses.

With Grant Leadbitter suspended it could be Adam Clayton to come into the team.

£7.2m-rated Adama Traore will look to continue his form on from the Leeds win.

Bamford will surely start after his heroics against the Whites.

Downing will go down the left and aim to get plenty of crosses in the box.