Bristol City travels to the Riverside this weekend, where they will look to beat Middlesbrough. If they do, they will complete the double over Boro, as they won 3-2 earlier this season.
Middlesbrough
Boro have struggled to find a run of winning form this season, with their record standing at 12 wins, five draws, and 12 defeats. This puts the side in 12th after 29 games, but they’re only four points behind a play-off spot with a game in hand. Carrick’s team have scored 1.48 goals per game, but they’ve also conceded 1.45, which has been their downfall.
Middlesbrough’s last two results have ended 1-1 in the league, with the latest of those coming against Sunderland at home. The tie was end-to-end throughout, with both teams registering at least 13 shots, but neither side was clinical.
Bristol City
The Robins seem to have put all of their efforts into the FA Cup as of late, with West Ham knocked out by them and Nottingham Forest just beating them in the replay. That said, they’re 14th in the Championship, and the team of fine margins, with them only scoring 33 goals and conceding 34 in 30 games.
Bristol City’s latest win was on Boxing Day, and their league form has been poor recently. Last time out, they suffered a narrow 1-0 home defeat to Leeds United, but in truth, the visitors could have netted a couple more.
Verdict?
This game will be close, with the visitors looking to frustrate the hosts and breaking on the counter.
The hosts should just edge it, however, with the extra rest giving them the advantage.
The final prediction is Middlesbrough 1-0 Bristol City.
