David Flower
Dailysports's expert
Middlesbrough
Blackburn
One of the matches of the upcoming FA Cup round will be played on Saturday at the Riverside Stadium, where Middlesbrough will host Blackburn. We suggest a bet on the outcome of this match with a good coefficient.
Match Preview
Middlesbrough was rightfully considered one of the main contenders for the playoff spot even before the start of the season, and the team's current results confirm the club's ambitions. Under Michael Carrick's leadership, the players are living up to expectations, sitting in 5th place in the table with 41 points. However, the situation remains tense, as 7th-placed Blackburn is just two points behind with a game in hand, adding uncertainty.
In the last round, Middlesbrough played at home against Cardiff City and could only manage a 1-1 draw. In 14 home matches, the team has secured six wins and three losses. They have not won at home in three consecutive Championship matches.
Blackburn was also considered one of the favorites for the playoff spot at the beginning of the season, and currently, John Yst's team is meeting those expectations. With 39 points, they are in 7th place, just one point behind 6th-placed West Bromwich, with one more match played. However, in the last round, Blackburn lost at home to Burnley 1-0. This continued their winless streak, which now stands at five matches—three losses and two draws. Before this, they had a six-match winning streak and were firmly in the top 6.
Probable Line-Ups
- Middlesbrough: Brinn, Borges, Fry, Clarke, Dyksteel, Hackney, Barlaser, Burgzorg, Azaz, Doak, Conway.
- Blackburn: Pears, Hyam, Pickering, Batt, Carter, Travis, Throsted, Wyman, Dolan, Hedges, Ohashi.
Match Facts and Head-to-Head
- In the first round, Blackburn won away against Middlesbrough 1-0.
- The "Both Teams to Score" bet succeeded in 3 of the last 5 matches between these teams.
- The "Over 2.5 Total" bet succeeded in 3 of the last 5 meetings between these teams.
Prediction
Bookmakers favor Middlesbrough in this match, offering odds around 1.83 for the hosts to win. We suggest taking the "Middlesbrough win" bet, as the team has been performing quite well at home in the Championship.
