Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Championship match.
Both clubs can be pleased with their recent victories. Burnley's win has propelled them to second place, securing a direct promotion spot to the Premier League, while Middlesbrough have climbed to their highest position this season, sitting fifth. Both teams need to consolidate their positions.
Burnley
Can Middlesbrough successfully challenge Burnley? To defeat them, a team must play at home and prevent Burnley from scoring. That's precisely what Sunderland (1:0) and Millwall (1:0) managed to do. Scoring against Burnley is the most unlikely feat— they concede an average of one goal every three matches.
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough are a side capable of scoring at will or not at all, even with the same number of chances. They have netted 32 goals in 18 matches, ranking them second in terms of scoring. Middlesbrough have failed to score in only five games, typically resulting in defeat (in four cases): they haven't drawn any goalless games.
Burnley vs Middlesbrough Prediction
In five of Middlesbrough’s last seven matches, both teams have scored, whereas Burnley have not had a 'both teams to score' result in their seven recent games. So, what should you choose? The teams hold opposing values. Betting on the number of goals or who will score is risky. A handicap of 0 on the favourite appears to be the optimal choice. Since Burnley are playing at home, they are unlikely to lose.
