Derby v Middlesbrough Betting Preview – Championship 21st April 3.00pm
This is a game of huge importance in the playoff race. Middlesbrough starts in fifth place just the one point behind seventh-placed Derby. So a win for Boro would leave them well in the driving seat to land a top-six finish. The Rams have slipped to back to back defeats just after they looked as if they had rediscovered their winning form. Three points for the home side would blow this wide open.
Derby News and Form
Derby have a chance to haul themselves back towards the top six if they could collect three points in his one. They have really been struggling for form since early February but recent back to back wins over Preston and Bolton appeared to have them going in the right direction again. That has fallen apart with back to back defeats suffered against leader leaders Wolves, which is excusable, but then against second-from-bottom Burton, which isn’t when you are pushing for promotion. The Rams won their last home game with a clean sheet success against Bolton, but that snapped a four-match winless streak that they were on at home (D2 L2) so it just hasn’t been happening for them. They are on a six-match scoring streak at home and each of their last four there have gone over 2.5 goals. But under 2.5 goals at 8/13 odds with William Hill* (Betting Odds taken at 4:55 p.m. on April 16th, 2018) looks the better option because this is a high-pressure game and neither are going to want to give it away. The Rams have averaged 1.65 goals per home game this season which isn’t a bad return and they have conceded at under a goal per game on average as well. Matej Vydra is their top scorer this season and will be their best option in the anytime goalscorer market.
Middlesbrough News and Form
A win for Boro in this one would strengthen their play off chances immensely. They collected a 2-1 win at home over Bristol City on the weekend but they will be out looking to snap a three-match winless streak of away from (D2 L1). Boro have actually won just one of their last seven games away from the Riverside in the league. A win is so important for Boro here because Derby, who are point behind them have a game in hand over them still. So if they move four points clear, that negates the game in hand that the Rams have. Boro’s overall away form is W7 D6 l8 for the season and they have netted in each of their last five road games. Both teams to score at William Hill is at 10/11 odds* (Betting Odds taken at 4:55 p.m. on April 16th, 2018). Boro have averaged 1.4 goals per away game this season and they are without a clean sheet in their last three on the road. 68% of their away goals conceded have been in the first half of matches, while they have scored 67% of their away goals in the second half of matches. Eight times away from home this season Boro have been trailing 1-0 at half time. In the William Hill correct score market a 1-1 draw is the shortest-priced option at 5/1 odds* (Betting Odds taken at 4:55 p.m. on April 16th, 2018).
Derby v Middlesbrough Head to Head
Derby were 3-0 winners when they went to the Riverside earlier this season. It is Boro who are head from the recent five league meetings though with a W3 D1 L1 record going against the Rams. Derby have failed to win their last two at home against Boro in the Championship, just taking the one point from those meetings. Both teams have scored in only one of the last six meetings and five of the last six have ended under 2.5 goals.
Derby v Middlesbrough Betting Odds*
Derby 6/4, Middlesbrough 15/8, Draw 11/5* (Betting Odds taken at 4:55 p.m. on April 16th, 2018)
Derby v Middlesbrough Predictions
Boro look as if they can be trusted just a little bit more in a high-pressure situation like this. They took a good win last weekend against Bristol City and can go and collect what would be a huge three points for themselves in this one. Away win.
