Middlesborough took a huge step towards the Championship play-off final with a winning goal in injury time against Brentford at Griffin Park last Friday. It could be argued that Aitor Karanka would have been pretty pleased with getting out of the first leg with a draw, but he would have been absolutely delighted to be taking a lead back to the Riverside. ‘Boro do, of course, have the best home record in the Championship having won 15 of their 23 games, and losing only three. The last of those defeats came back in February – to Leeds – but that has been their only home defeat in the last 21 which is an indication of how strong they have been at the Riverside. Karanka and his players know that if they can avoid defeat one more time, then they will be playing at Wembley with a chance of returning to the Premier League.
Brentford will be sick of the sight of Middlesborough having lost all three games between the two clubs so far this season. Although they were well beaten on their previous visit to the North East back in September when losing 4-0, the Bees will be scratching their heads as to how they have lost both home games when dominating so much. Those games are gone now, however, and their focus has tYo be on how to record their first win against Middlesborough. Going away from home will certainly not phase Mark Warburton and his players as they possess one of the best away record in the Championship, winning 11 games during the regular season. Their away successes have included wins at Blackburn and Norwich, but they are their only two wins against clubs in the top 10.
Karanka has looked to build a strong spine since taking over at the Riverside, and that has been the case for the whole of this season. Ben Gibson, Grant Leadbitter, Adam Clayton and Patrick Bamford have formed that spine in their quest for promotion and will again play key roles on Friday night. That being said, it was the on-loan Fernando Amorebieta who proved to be the hero with his goal in the closing stages. It shows that the play-offs can throw up plenty of surprises and the most unlikely scenarios. Karanka will be hoping that the second leg is one of the more sedate play-off games, though.
The story of Warburton’s future has been much talked about in the last couple of months and he will be hoping that there is another couple of weeks of it. The end result will be the same, of course, but his team have prolonged his departure until this point, when it looked likely their season would end before the play-offs began. Before winning automatic promotion to the Championship last season, Brentford suffered their own play-off heartache when losing to Yeovil at Wembley in 2013. Failing to reach the Premie League would certainly not be a failure, all things considered, but it would clearly be a disappointment having got to so close.
It is another finely poised tie, following the first leg, and one which both clubs will feel they have a chance of being triumphant in. There is no getting away from how strong Middlesborough have been at the Riverside throughout this season, and much of their success has been built on an excellent defensive record, keeping 13 clean sheets. Brentford, on the other hand, are a team whose strength is very much in their offensive style. Their last 10 games have seen them score 20 goals and they know coming into this match that they have to add to that tally if they are to progress to the final. Whilst I do not think we will get a repeat of the 4-0 thrashing ‘Boro handed out to Brentford earlier in the season, I do believe the home side will do enough to win this game and book a date at Wembley against either Ipswich or Norwich. Their extra experience and the fact they have a lead to defend will be the crucial factors.
Middlesborough 21/20 @ Betvictor
