Middlesbrough v Burton Albion Betting Tip Both teams to score – 18 December 2018

Burton can trouble 'Boro

FA Cup & League Cup Tips

EnglandMiddlesbrough v Burton AlbionEngland
Tuesday 18th December 1945hrs
Football – England – League Cup
Pick: Both teams to score
Bookmaker: Betfred
Odds: 11/10 (odds taken 21.10 GMT, Monday 17 December )

League Cup Betting at Betfred

It’s the quarter final stage of this year’s League Cup and the lowest ranked sides remaining in the tournament meet each other with a fantastic opportunity awaiting them. Whoever wins will be a two-legged semi final away from a place in a major final at Wembley which would almost certainly have vastly exceeded their expectations when they played their first game in the competition back in August. Continue reading for a match preview of Middlesbrough v Burton Albion, with a selected best betting tip.

Middlesbrough Prediction

There’s no doubt that when the season started, Tony Pulis’ only concern for his Middlesbrough team was to win promotion. Nothing else would have been important but now that ‘Boro are in the quarter finals of the League Cup, there may be a few in and around the Riverside who will be daring to dream of an unlikely trip to Wembley. Of course, that remains some way off as they first have to negotiate this game and then worry about beating a much higher ranked team home and away before they reach that point, but it’s been a decent run so far and Pulis and his players will be looking to make it a good one with victory tomorrow. Middlesbrough’s route to this stage has seen them defeat Notts County and Preston North End on penalties, and a couple of narrow victories at home to Rochdale and Premier League outfit Crystal Palace. The last time they reached this stage of the League Cup was back in 2015 when they came undone by Everton. The opposition who awaits them this time around is much more favourable, however, and they’ll surely fancy their chances playing at home.

Burton Albion Prediction

Burton were relegated from the Championship last season and the first half of their League One campaign has been uninspiring to say the least. Nigel Clough’s men are suffering something of a relegation hangover it seems, currently lurking in 15th spot with just eight wins from their 21 matches. A gap of nine points exists between themselves and the playoffs – which is likely to be their aim – but it’s been their cup exploits where they’ve managed to find some solace. It’s been an excellent run thus far, starting with a victory away to Shrewsbury before three consecutive home wins against Aston Villa, Burnley and Nottingham Forest. To be able to reel off those three wins is nothing short of excellent for a club with Burton’s scant resources and they will only naturally be dreaming of what might be. As would probably be expected, League Cup quarter finals is not the norm for the club and they’re usually eliminated before the clocks go back for daylight savings. It’s been different this time, however, and although they would have preferred a home tie, it’s still very much a game that will give the visitors some hope that they can reach the final four – something they’ve never done in the club’s history.

Middlesbrough v Burton Albion Betting Advice

When the draw was made for the quarter finals, this is the tie that both of these teams would have undoubtedly been the one they wanted considering that the other six are Premier League clubs, all of whom are in the top half of the table as well. This game certainly brings both ‘Boro and Burton with the best opportunity of making the semi final and they can then take their chances with top flight opposition. Whilst the visitors are making history even reaching this stage, their opponents won this trophy back in 2004 and their fans would bite your hand off for another chance to do similar.
It’s fair to say this neither of these teams have been in good form of late with both expected to be challenging for promotion. ‘Boro’s form at the Riverside has been indifferent whilst Burton have managed only three wins on the road all season, one of them coming in this competition. We know the form book often goes out the window in cup competitions and the hosts cannot take Burton lightly here. Clean sheets have, surprisingly, been hard to come by for Pulis’ men of late, with none in their last five and Burton can take advantage of that, and give their travelling support something to shout about. Three of the four games in the competition for both clubs have seen both teams scoring and this can be another one.