Boro return to action after the international break with a home game against Bristol City.
Ahead of the Sky Bet Championship clash at the Riverside, here is a closer look at the Robins...
The background
Bristol City are 16th in the table, having collected 11 points from their opening nine games.
Their last three matches ended all-square, with a Luke McNally goal securing a 1-1 draw against Cardiff City last time out.
The Robins' two victories so far were against Millwall (4-3) and Oxford United (2-1), while they have also been beaten just twice.
City have been in the Championship for 16 of the last 18 seasons, having been in League One between 2013 and 2015.
The boss
Liam Manning has been manager of Bristol City since November 2023, succeeding Nigel Pearson in the dugout. He led his team to a top-half finish last time out.
Manning has previously been in charge at Belgian side Lommel SK, Milton Keynes Dons and Oxford United, and before that was highly-regarded in youth football.
He is on a period of absence following the tragic death of his recently born son, Theo John Manning.
Assistant boss Chris Hogg is taking charge while Manning is absent.
Key players
Scott Twine worked successfully under Manning at MK Dons, and the forward reunited with his former boss by joining Bristol City on a permanent basis in the summer. The former Swindon Town, Burnley and Hull City man impressed on loan with the Robins last season to earn a full-time move.
He usually operates as a number 10 but is also adept on the left flank or as a main striker, with his 20 goals in 45 League One appearances for MK in 2021/22 almost inspiring a promotion to the Championship. Twine has already caught the eye this season and scored a dramatic winner in a 4-3 victory over Millwall in August.
Rob Dickie was voted the Robins’ Player of the Season in his debut campaign at Ashton Gate last time out, although the defender may miss this weekend's game with a hamstring injury.
Flair is provided by Anis Mehmeti and there has been a strong start to life in Bristol for Max Bird, who joined on a free from Derby County in the summer.
Bird is joined in midfield by his former Derby team-mate Jason Knight, while Japanese forward Yu Hirakawa is looking to make an impression after signing on loan during the off-season.
Another summer addition was Sinclair Armstrong, who has quickly established himself in the team since his move from Queens Park Rangers.
Past meetings
Boro are looking to break a run of five games without victory against the Robins, having been beaten in both meetings last season.
We last triumphed over City at the Riverside in August 2021, when goals from Uche Ikpeazu and Matt Crooks were enough to secure a 2-1 victory.