Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Championship match.
This is one of the key matches of the round, as both clubs vie for playoff spots, though they find themselves in different situations. Blackburn Rovers' match against Portsmouth was cancelled due to the Ewood Park pitch flooding from torrential rain. They have not played an official match in more than two weeks. How will this affect them?
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough have become a force to be reckoned with. The team are scoring freely, and the signs were there. They have been creating potential chances translating to high xG numbers, standing at 29.77, nearly 2 per game. They have only just relinquished the top spot to Leeds United. Their actual goals are just 0.77 behind, although, for example, after six rounds, the gap was 5.43. In their 16th round game, Middlesbrough secured their fourth consecutive big win—this time over Oxford United (6:2) with an xG of just 2.89. Emmanuel Latte Lath scored a hat-trick, taking his tally to five goals in the last three rounds.
Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers also started the season with high-scoring matches, averaging two goals. However, their attack has slowed down over time. From the 11th to the 14th round, they even forgot how to score, despite playing three matches at Ewood Park. In their last outing, the 15th against Cardiff City, their attack clicked again, resulting in a 3:1 win. Furthermore, Blackburn Rovers secured their first away win of the season.
Middlesbrough vs Blackburn Rovers Prediction
If the visitors are drawn into a fast-paced open game, they will gladly embrace it. Additionally, Andreas Weimann found his form in the last match against the Welsh side, scoring twice. We are confident the teams will manage at least three goals.
