Middlesbrough v Rotherham United
17 September 1945hrs
Football – England – Championship
Pick Middlesbrough win
Bookmaker bet365
Odds: 1.65 odds taken 1608 GMT, Friday 16th September
Saturday afternoon brings us further action from the Championship and features this upcoming clash between Middlesbrough and Rotherham United at the Riverside Stadium with Middlesbrough looking to make amends for their recent 3-2 defeat at home to Cardiff City, while Rotherham United will be seeking to post back to back wins in the Championship.
Table of Contents
Middlesbrough Preview – Can Boro use home advantage?
Middlesbrough were handed a fourth defeat in the Championship last time out at home at their Riverside Stadium as Chris Wilder’s side succumbed to a 3-2 defeat to Cardiff City, which has also left the north-east hosts precariously perched just above the relegation zone and level on points with third from bottom club, Swansea City, prior to this weekend’s action.
Indeed, with Middlesbrough not playing until the evening of this Saturday’s games, Boro could well find themselves in the bottom three of the Championship if other results do not go their way, so there’s expected to be a level of increased incentive where the hosts are concerned for this upcoming clash on home soil.
The hosts have actually managed to register just two wins so far this season which were both at home, picking up wins against Swansea City and Sunderland but losses to QPR, Reading, Watford and Cardiff City have outweighed Boro’s minimal successes this term, although three of these four losses were incurred on their travels.
Results at home though have been far more encouraging for the hosts though as Middlesbrough have suffered just the one defeat out of their last seven games at home in the Championship and indeed, the bigger picture shows that Boro have lost just four out of their previous 18 home games as well.
Having also picked up 12 wins within this 18-match sequence at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough still look a force to be reckoned with in their own backyard, while overall, the hosts have lost just once in their last five meetings against Rotherham United and will fancy their chances of bouncing back with a win here this Saturday evening.
Chris Wilder will be without forward Chuba Akpom (2 goals) and defender Darnell Fisher who are both struggling with injuries while American goalkeeper Zack Steffen, is rated as doubtful for this clash.
Rotherham United Preview – Can Millers build on promising start?
Although Rotherham United gained promotion from League One at the end of last season, The Millers were being tipped for relegation from this season’s Championship before a ball was even kicked in anger, but the visitors have confounded their critics thus far as they have lost just once to date in their opening eight games and they look far more compact this time around.
Rotherham’s one defeat so far upon their return to the Championship came in the form of a heavy 3-0 loss away from home at fellow promoted Sunderland, but unlike previous campaigns, this hasn’t turned out to be the catalyst of a miserable slump in form as the Yorkshire club have responded by picking up a point in a 1-1 draw at home with Watford and registered a convincing 3-0 home win over Blackpool last time out.
However, Rotherham are still in search of their first away win of the season as each of their previous three wins were all recorded on home soil at their AESSEAL New York Stadium with victories gained over Reading, Birmingham City and Blackpool, all to nil, with results of 4-0, 2-0 and 3-0 respectively.
That said, manager, Paul Warne, will still be scratching his head as to how his side have failed to make a similar impact on their travels in the Championship following three games without a win in the second tier, drawing 0-0 at Preston NE, 1-1 at QPR and being handed a 3-0 loss at Sunderland, while the bigger picture shows Rotherham have failed to win any of their last nine away games at this level.
Within this sequence, The Millers have failed to score in seven of these nine away games and their shyness in front of goal on the road may well hamper the visitors again at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday evening, and defender Peter Kioso is ruled out with injury.
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Middlesbrough v Rotherham United
Key Facts – Middlesbrough v Rotherham United Tip
- Middlesbrough have lost just 4 out of their previous 18 home games
- Rotherham United have failed to win any of their last 9 away games
- Middlesbrough have lost just once in their last 5 meetings against Rotherham United
Middlesbrough have had their problems this season but they’ve been tough to beat at the Riverside Stadium.
The best betting odds for Middlesbrough v Rotherham United
Middsbro to win: 1.65 at bet365
Draw: 3.80 at bet365
Rotherham to win: 5.50 at bet365
