MIDDLESBROUGH v BRISTOL CITY
Saturday 22nd August 2015 – Kickoff: 1500hrs
Football – England – Championship Betting Tips
Middlesbrough have enjoyed early success in the first couple of weeks in the new English season having earned points on the road away at Preston North End and away at highly-fancied Derby County whilst grabbing the points at home against Bolton Wanderers in a 3-0 win.
Middlesbrough are also through to the second round of the Capital One Cup thanks to a 3-1 away win at League One outfit Oldham Athletic, and Boro once again have home advantage this afternoon when they take on early Championship strugglers Bristol City.
Boro have lost just once in their last seven matches in the Championship, that being the 2-0 Play Off Final loss to Norwich City who were promoted to the Premier League following that victory at Wembley.
Visitors Bristol City played their ‘get out of jail free’ card on Wednesday night when they clawed back a two-goal deficit to grab a point at home against Leeds United in a 2-2 draw. The Robins found themselves two goals down to Leeds having conceded either side of half-time, but two goals in the last few minutes gave Bristol City a much needed point.
However, Bristol City still find themselves third from bottom in the Championship having gained just one point from their first three league matches – the previous two games ended in defeats to Sheffield Wednesday and Brentford and The Robins have conceded 8 goals so far in their first three Championship matches.
Bristol City were also bundled out of the League Cup as they lost 3-1 away at League Two side Luton Town in the first round of the Capital One Cup, so all is not so rosy in the west country.
The major difference between Middlesbrough and the ‘also-rans’ is that if Boro take the lead, they tend to be able to hold onto it and the same pattern could emerge here this afternoon at The Riverside – I’ll back Boro to take the points in a 1-0 win.
Pick: Middlesbrough straight win @ 1.60 bet365
