Nottingham Forest v Middlesborough Betting Tip Both teams to score – Saturday 7 March

Championship Tips

Despite a very strong start to the season where they won five of their first seven league games, and going unbeaten in their first 11 matches, a wretched run of three wins in 17 league games leaves them with only an outside hope of making the play-offs. Stuart Pearce lasted only a few months in charge because of this, with the torch passed to Dougie Freedman. The former Bolton and Palace manager has enjoyed a good start to his new job, and looked like getting them back into contention for the top six, only to lose vital points on Tuesday, going down 2-1 away to Charlton. It leaves them having to make up an 11 point gap on sixth placed Brentford.

Aitor Karanka has only been in charge at Middlesborough for little over a year but you would never think that when you see how settled and consistent they are. ‘Boro sit top of the Championship, a point clear of second placed Derby. It has been a massive improvement for a side who finished mid-table last season but there’s still an awful long way to go. With so many sides breathing down their neck, the league leaders have to continue picking up points, especially at difficult venues, as that seems to be a problem for the top clubs in the division. Themselves, Derby and Bournemouth have all dropped points on their travels recently so if one of them can start picking up wins away from home, it could be the difference come the end of the season.

Not long after Freedman took over at the club, record signing and top scorer Britt Assombalonga suffered what is likely to be season ending injury. It would have been a concern for the new manager but his Forest players have responded well to that adversity, winning three of their next five and scoring 14 goals in the process. It’s indicative of how Freedman likes his team’s to play and it’s likely to continue as Forest can afford to play with a bit of freedom, now.

As with all successful sides, it has been a real team effort at the Riverside this season. They may not be the most prolific of sides but they are very efficient and boast the best defensive record in the league, by an incredible 10 goals. They concede, on average, less than a goal a game away from home but have only kept five clean sheets in 13 games on the road. They have also conceded in each of their last three away games so although they are very sound defensively, they can be got at.

This game promises to be a very interesting match as two sides in relatively good form come head to head. The home side may just have left themselves too much to do to get into the play-offs but they are scoring a lot more goals and playing more attractive football under their new manager. Their visitors will be looking to maintain their place at the top of the table, where they are on merit but I think they’ll have a game on their hands here and I can see it being entertaining.

Both teams to score 4/5 @ Betfair