For our Middlesbrough vs. Burnley prediction, we're going for a 1-1 draw.
Middlesbrough's faint automatic promotion hopes continue on Friday as they face league leaders Burnley in the Championship.
Middlesbrough currently sit 3rd in the Championship with twenty wins, seven draws and twelve losses from thirty-nine games this season.
For the most part, Middlesbrough have been a revelation under Michael Carrick having soared from the relegation zone up to 3rd in the table since the former Manchester United midfielder took the reins.
However, they enter this game off the back of a hugely deflating, and potentially damaging defeat, away at Huddersfield Town where they were comfortably beaten 4-2.
Huddersfield are a side in the relegation zone and this result was hugely unexpected. Worse still, it's allowed Sheffield United to pull six points clear with a game in hand which does, unfortunately, mean their hopes of automatic promotion have been well and truly dashed.
Their form is still good overall, though, with Boro having won seven, drawn one and lost two of their last ten matches, losing just one of their last five.
Their form at home is even more impressive having not lost on home soil under Michael Carrick while winning four of their last five.
They're still in good shape and they'll be the favourites for the play-offs, but it's essential that Middlesbrough don't start to fizzle out and end the season in an underwhelming manner as they need to accumulate momentum going into the play-offs. A win against the league leaders would no doubt put them right back on track.
Burnley currently sit top of the Championship with twenty-four wins, twelve draws and two losses from thirty-eight games this season.
Similar to that of Michael Carrick, Vincent Kompany's appointment has been a master stroke this season as the Belgian looks all but set to guide Burnley to the league title with automatic promotion as good as sewn up.
The Clarets enter this game unbeaten in their last eighteen matches in the league having won three and drawn two of their last five.
Most recently, Burnley drew 0-0 at home to Sunderland in a fairly drab encounter.
Their form away from home has been decent of late having won three of their last five on the road, hut having drawn two of their last three they appear a tad less fearsome away from Turf Moor.
Still, they're clearly the best side in the league and with Boro at the top of their game this has all the makings of a Championship classic.
Don’t forget to check out the rest of our previews, tips and offers for this weekend’s action.
