Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Championship match.
Middlesbrough have a clear objective — securing a place in the top six — which means they must win every remaining game. Norwich City, on the other hand, have no such objective and are simply playing out the season.
Middlesbrough
The task at hand for the hosts appears straightforward, yet it is anything but simple. Beating an unmotivated Norwich City side is only part of the equation. In the final round, Middlesbrough will travel to face Coventry City, who currently occupy sixth place and are three points ahead of Middlesbrough. Even if Coventry City win their upcoming fixture against Luton Town, Middlesbrough would still have a chance to overtake them with a head-to-head victory. However, that opportunity lies in the future. For now, the team must take care of the immediate challenge.
Norwich City
Norwich City seem to have lost all interest in the competition some time ago, as they sit safely in mid-standings. Over the last ten matches, they have managed just one win — a 1:0 result against West Bromwich Albion. They have shown a capacity for both cautious and high-scoring football, as seen in the contrasting results against Portsmouth (3:5) and Millwall (1:3) in their previous two games. Their approach largely depends on the opponent. Middlesbrough are more likely to draw them into a lower-scoring affair. In their last ten fixtures, Middlesbrough have not been involved in a single match featuring more than three goals. Norwich, meanwhile, have finished under 3.5 goals in seven of their last ten.
Middlesbrough vs Norwich City Prediction
All signs point to a Middlesbrough victory, driven by their clear need for points, with no more than three goals expected in the match. Middlesbrough know how to control the tempo when necessary.
