Middlesbrough vs. Swansea City: Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

Middlesbrough have the advantage in this fixture, which promises to be a high-scoring affair. Middlesbrough have won their last four against Swansea, unbeaten in six. Swansea are without a clean sheet in eight against Boro, with the BTTS market landing in four of the previous five.

Look for Emmanuel Latte Lath to make an impact against Swansea. Latte Lath averaged 1.4 shots on target per game last season and scored a brace in this fixture back in April. Luke Ayling received ten yellow cards last season, averaging 1.7 fouls per game. Harry Darling received nine yellow cards last season, averaging one foul per game.

Considering how dominant Middlesbrough have been in the recent head-to-head meetings between the two, we think they'll take a fairly comfortable win here.

Middlesbrough 3-1 Swansea.

The opening weekend of the Championship season brings an exciting clash between Middlesbrough and Swansea City at the Riverside Stadium.

• Date: 10/08/2024
• Kick-off time: 12:30
• Location: Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough, under the stewardship of Michael Carrick, have experienced a significant transformation over the past couple of seasons. Carrick took over during the 2022-23 campaign, inheriting a team languishing in the relegation zone. His impact was immediate and transformative, as he guided Boro from the brink of relegation to the cusp of automatic promotion. Despite ultimately falling short in the playoffs that season, the turnaround was remarkable and set the tone for the following campaign.

Last season, Middlesbrough finished 8th in the Championship. It was a commendable achievement, especially considering the high turnover of players in the summer transfer window. Many of those who departed were on loan, leaving Carrick with the task of rebuilding the squad. This period of transition was not without its challenges; the team naturally took time to gel, and they were further hampered by a persistent injury crisis that plagued them throughout the season.

Despite these obstacles, Middlesbrough finished just four points shy of the playoff places. This near-miss has fuelled optimism around the Riverside Stadium, with many considering Boro as serious promotion contenders this season.

Middlesbrough have also enjoyed a fruitful transfer window, retaining key players such as Hayden Hackney and Emmanuel Latte Lath while bolstering their ranks with new signings. Among the newcomers is Aidan Morris, a talented American midfielder, and Delano Burgzorg, a winger who impressed during his loan spell at Huddersfield. These additions, along with theexisting quality in the squad, provide Carrick with a wealth of quality options.

Swansea City, on the other hand, are coming off a rather unremarkable campaign. They finished 14th in the Championship last season, a performance that left much to be desired. The Welsh club will be eager to put the past behind them and focus on building a more competitive side this term.

The managerial change during last season saw Michael Duff replaced by Luke Williams in January. Williams arrived from Notts County and brought about some improvement, although it was not enough to propel Swansea into playoff contention. Under Williams, Swansea won 8, drew 4, and lost 10 of his 22 games in charge. While this record shows glimpses of progress, it also highlights the inconsistencies that plagued their season.

In the transfer market, Swansea have taken a different approach by focusing on young, untested talent from abroad. Goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux has joined from Burnley, along with midfielder Gonçalo Franco from Moreirense and forwards Eom Ji-sung from Gwangju and Žan Vipotnik from Bordeaux. These signings bring fresh potential to the squad, but they remain largely unproven at this level. The departure of centre-back Nathan Wood to Southampton is a notable blow, as he was a key figure in their defence.

There is a sense that Swansea may struggle to make significant headway this season, as the squad lacks the depth and quality needed to challenge for a top-six finish. While relegation seems unlikely, it is difficult to envision Swansea pushing much beyond mid-table mediocrity. The team will need to find consistency and resilience if they are to exceed expectations.

Middlesbrough have dominated recent encounters against Swansea, winning the last four head-to-head matches.

The clash between Middlesbrough and Swansea City promises to be an intriguing encounter, with both teams eager to start the season positively. Middlesbrough, buoyed by their strong finish last season and an excellent transfer window, will be aiming to assert their dominance and establish themselves as promotion contenders. Swansea, meanwhile, will be seeking to prove their mettle and defy expectations.

This game will be aired live to all subscribed U.K. viewers on Sky Sports +.

Middlesbrough Team News:

Michael Carrick has preferred continuity from last season in preseason so new signings may have to make their debuts off the bench.

Star man Hayden Hackney is fit again after missing the last few months of the season.

Predicted lineup: Dieng; Van den Berg, Ayling, Clarke, Engel; Howson, Hackney; Jones, Azaz, McGree; Latte Lath.

Swansea Team News:

The Swans could hand starts to new signings Lawrence Vigouroux, Gonçalo Franco and Eom Ji-sung.

Youngster Azeem Abdulai could be handed a big start in midfield after impressing in preseason.

Predicted lineup: Vigouroux; Key, Darling, Cabango, Tymon; Fulton, Abdulai, Grimes; Eom Ji-sung, Cullen, Franco.

Middlesbrough had a very tough end to last season in terms of fixture difficulty but their results were largely positive. Boro claimed successive draws against Hull City (2-2) and Ipswich Town (2-2), before losing 3-4 to 3rd placed Leeds United. They then ended the campaign with consecutive wins, beating Cardiff City 4-1 and Watford 3-1.

In preseason Michael Carrick's side have been very strong, winning four, drawing one and losing one of their six games. After losing their first preseason game 1-0 to Vitoria Guimaraes, Boro recorded wins against Bolton Wanderers (3-0), Gateshead (1-0), Doncaster Rovers (3-5) and Heerenveen (1-), with a 0-0 draw against Harrogate Town sandwiched in between.

Swansea ended last season pretty positively results-wise. The Swans registered three wins against Stoke City (3-0), Rotherham United (1-0) and Huddersfield Town (4-0), before drawing 2-2 with Norwich City and losing 0-1 to Millwall on the final day of the campaign.

Swansea have been a mixed bag in their three preseason games, losing 2-1 to Köln, drawing 1-1 with Vardar Skopje and beating Rio Ave 3-0.

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