Barnsley vs Middlesbrough
10th April 1500hrs
Football – England – EFL Championship
Pick Home Win
Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 6/5 odds taken 1112 GMT, Friday 9 April
Valerien Ismael’s Barnsley have arguably been the surprise package in the EFL Championship this season. On Saturday afternoon, the Tykes will be looking to take another big leap towards securing a top-six spot when they entertain Neil Warnock’s Middlesbrough, who have play-off hopes of their own. This Championship clash promises to be a cracker at Oakwell, but will we see a winner?
Table of Contents
Barnsley Preview – Tykes to move closer to securing play-off spot?
Since arriving in South Yorkshire, Frenchman Valerien Ismael has done an exceptional job. Barnsley looked like relegation fodder when the former Wolfsburg boss took over, but Ismael has turned the Tykes into genuine promotion candidates.
Barnsley are sitting pretty in fifth spot with eight games to go, three points clear of seventh-placed Bournemouth. It has been a remarkable turnaround for the Yorkshire club, who had picked up no league wins before Ismael’s arrival back in October.
Barnsley have been on a superb run of form over the past couple of months or so. Since back-to-back draws with Cardiff City and Nottingham Forest, they have gone on to win a staggering ten of their following 13 in the Championship, including seven in a row from mid-February to early March.
Three points this weekend will send out another big signal of intent to their promotion rivals. The Barnsley victory is available at 6/5.
Middlesbrough Preview – Can Boro avoid another damaging defeat?
Middlesbrough’s play-off hopes are hanging by a thread after they have picked up just one point from their last three fixtures. However, after away defeats to Millwall and Bournemouth, Neil Warnock’s men did hold high-flying Watford to a 1-1 draw at the Riverside Stadium last time out.
Middlesbrough have some winnable games on the horizon, but they have probably given themselves too much to do in terns of taking one of the four play-off positions come the end of the campaign. Before Saturday’s crunch match at Oakwell, Boro find themselves nine points behind sixth place.
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Middlesbrough have struggled away from home lately, losing each of their last three and four of their previous six. Because of that, the bookies have the North Yorkshire club at big odds of 12/5 to cause an upset this weekend.
Barnsley vs Middlesbrough Betting Advice
These two teams have already met twice this season. Back in September, goals from Patrick Schmidt and Jordan Williams gave the Tykes a 2-0 win at the Riverside in the EFL Cup. However, a few weeks later, Middlesbrough beat Barnsley in the league, with Jonny Howson and Chuba Akpom on target.
Key Facts – Barnsley vs Middlesbrough Betting Tip
- Barnsley have suffered just one league defeat since January
- Middlesbrough have lost three in a row away from home
- The Tykes are without a win in three on home soil, drawing two and losing one
Barnsley have had an incredible 2021 so far, while Middlesbrough’s play-off hopes are in danger of going up in smoke. This could be close on the scoreline, but our money is going on the home win at the decent odds of 6/5.
A one-goal margin was enough for Middlesbrough when they won the reverse game at the Riverside earlier in the season. This time, we are backing Barnsley to win by one goal, which is generously priced at 11/4.
The best betting odds for Barnsley vs Middlesbrough
Barnsley to win: 6/5 at Bet365
Draw: 11/5 at Bet365
Middlesbrough to win: 12/5 at Bet365
