Middlesbrough v Wigan Athletic Betting Tips – EFL Championship, 20th August 19.45pm
Jonathan Woodgate has had a tough start to life in the Middlesbrough dugout. Boro will be desperate for their first win of the season when Paul Cook’s Wigan Athletic visit the Riverside Stadium in the EFL Championship on Tuesday night. Despite their poor start, Middlesbrough go into this home clash as the odds-on favourites with the bookies to claim a win. Meanwhile, the Latics, who have lost their last three in league and cup, are available at 15/4.
Middlesbrough v Wigan Athletic Betting Odds*
Middlesbrough 5/6
Draw 12/5
Wigan Athletic 15/4
* (Betting Odds were taken from bet365 on August 19th, 2019 at 14:30 p.m.)
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Table of Contents
Middlesbrough News and Form – First win for Woodgate?
Middlesbrough started their Championship campaign in promising fashion, battling to a draw in a six-goal thriller at Luton Town. Ashley Fletcher, Britt Assombalonga and Lewis Wing were the scorers at Kenilworth Road in the enthralling 3-3 stalemate.
Since that opening weekend draw with Luton, Middlesbrough have lost back-to-back games in the Championship. Boro were beaten 1-0 at home by Brentford, which they followed up with a 1-0 loss at Blackburn Rovers last time out. They were also knocked out of the EFL Cup at the first hurdle by EFL League Two outfit Crewe Alexandra.
Middlesbrough’s ultimate goal this season will be to finish in the top six. The Teesside club missed out on the play-offs under Tony Pulis by a single point last time around. Their form at home was their Achilles heel, as Boro won just ten of 23 Championship matches at the Riverside Stadium last season.
Middlesbrough have been toothless in attack over the last two Championship games, and Woodgate will have a real problem on his hands if Boro are beaten again in midweek. However, they should have enough in their locker to get past Wigan in this one.
Middlesbrough v Wigan Athletic Head to Head
Wigan have failed to score in their last three matches against Middlesbrough
A Jordan Hugill double gave Boro a 2-0 win at the Riverside last season
When they last met, the pair drew 0-0 at the DW Stadium in March
Boro are unbeaten in their last nine against the Latics, winning four and drawing five
- Middlesbrough were beaten seven times at the Riverside in the league last term
- Boro have taken just one point from a possible nine under Woodgate thus far
- Wigan have lost their last three in all competitions since beating Cardiff on the opening weekend
Wigan Athletic News and Form – Can the Latics avoid a third straight league defeat?
Wigan Athletic sealed a superb win over Cardiff City in their opening Championship game of the season earlier in the month. Michael Jacobs, Josh Windass and Lee Evans found the net in a 3-2 home win over the Bluebirds.
It’s been all downhill since then, though, as the Latics have lost each of their last three in all competitions. Wigan were thumped at Preston North End in their second game before losing 1-0 at home to Stoke City in the EFL Cup last Tuesday. Then last weekend, two Patrick Bamford goals gave Leeds United a 2-0 win at the DW Stadium.
Wigan were pretty decent on their own patch last season, but their form on the road was atrocious. Although they survived comfortably in the end, Cook’s boys claimed just two away wins in last term’s Championship, losing 16 and drawing five of the other 21. Meanwhile, they scored a mere 22 away goals along the way.
This will no doubt be another stern test for Wigan. The Latics have failed to kick on from a stunning start, but can they get back to winning ways with a surprise victory at the Riverside Stadium on Tuesday?
Middlesbrough v Wigan Athletic Tips & Odds
Middlesbrough to win at 5/6
To win to nil – Middlesbrough at 15/8
* (Betting Odds were taken from bet365 on August 19th, 2019 at 14:33 p.m.)
Middlesbrough v Wigan Athletic Predictions
Middlesbrough win: By hook or by crook, Boro need to put three points on the board sooner rather than later. Middlesbrough certainly have a capable squad, but they have really struggled to make an impact under Woodgate so far. Wigan could also do with a positive result after losing their last three in all competitions. However, home advantage could be key in this battle, so back the hosts to come out on top at 5/6.
As I mentioned, Middlesbrough only won ten home league games under Pulis last season. However, nine of those ten wins came with clean sheets. Back in November, Boro beat Wigan 2-0 at the Riverside, and I fancy a similar kind of scoreline on Tuesday. Check out the solid odds of 15/8 for Middlesbrough to win to nil.
