Sunday’s Championship action comes from the Riverside where Middlesbrough will be hoping to avoid a slip up against bottom-three side Sunderland. The Black Cats are on a massive streak of winless form in the second tier and therefore Boro will be expected to be avoiding defeat against them on home soil. Boro, who have won their last two league games back to back are 7/10 odds on to claim the three points on offer in this one, with Sunderland out at 11/2 to do so.
The Championship – Riverside, Middlesbrough – Saturday 4th November – 12:45 UK Time
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Draw Best Odd of: 11/4 at Ladbrokes |
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Middlesbrough FC
SunderlandMiddlesbrough Form
Boro haven’t done as well as they would have hoped to at this stage of the season following relegation from the top flight last term. They are in eighth now after a little revival of back to back wins. They have gone winless in their last three at home in the league though, collecting just the one point in that sequence. Their defence though has been solid enough conceding less than a goal per game at the Riverside this season in the top flight. Just 29% of their home fixtures in the Championship this term have gone over 2.5 goals so there probably isn’t going to be a high scoring game on the cards here. Britt Assombalonga top scores for them with eight league goals and he has three in his last four.
Sunderland Form
Sunderland would be looking at Middlesbrough’s position with envy at the moment you would imagine. They have only won one league game in the Championship this season and have sacked Simon Grayson because of that. Their lone win happened back in mid-August and they are D5 L7 since then. It’s not good reading. They have actually scored in each of their last eight league games, but they are still awaiting their first clean sheet of the season and they have conceded at least two goals in six of their last seven games. They are scoring well, but their defence is shocking.
Head to Head News
Boro and Sunderland were paired in the Premier League last season, let’s not forget. It’s been quite some fall for the Black Cats. Last season Boro won both games against Sunderland and they’re on a three-match winning streak against the Mackems in all competitions now, losing just one of their last six against them.
Top Betting Tips
Middlesbrough to win by a one-goal margin should return value at 5/2 and that is because two of their three home wins this season have been by that narrow margin. Coupled with Sunderland actually scoring well but still failing, Boro should just have enough to edge this narrowly at the Riverside.