Middlesbrough vs Stoke City Predictions & Betting Odds – 20th December 2019

Middlesbrough vs Stoke City Betting Tips – EFL Championship, 20th December 19.45pm

Jonathan Woodgate’s Middlesbrough and Michael O’Neill’s Stoke City go head-to-head at the Riverside Stadium in the EFL Championship on Friday night. These two were both Premier League clubs not so long ago, but the pair are languishing down at the wrong end of the Championship table at present. Boro are in 20th spot, with the Potters two places and three points behind. This truly is a relegation six-pointer.

Huddersfield Town vs Barnsley Betting Odds*

Middlesbrough 19/10
Draw 9/4
Stoke City 29/20
* (Betting Odds were taken from bet365 on December 18th, 2019 at 16:40 p.m.)
EFL Championship Betting at Bet365

Middlesbrough vs Stoke City Live Stats & Betting Odds

Middlesbrough News and Form – Boro to make it three home victories on the bounce?

Boro just missed out on the play-offs last season with Tony Pulis at the helm, but new boss Jonathan Woodgate has failed to build on that momentum. At the time of writing, Middlesbrough are down in 20th place, three points above the bottom three.

Middlesbrough have no doubt struggled this season, but they have only lost twice at home since August. Since a 1-0 defeat to high-flying West Bromwich Albion in October, Boro are unbeaten in their past four at the Riverside, winning the last two. Woodgate’s men have secured back-to-back 1-0 home successes over Barnsley and Charlton Athletic.

 

 

Middlesbrough would have been targeting a top-six place before a ball was kicked this season, but they look to be heading for a relegation battle. However, three points over fellow strugglers Stoke at the Riverside Stadium on Friday would be just what the doctor ordered for Woodgate and his underperforming troops.

Middlesbrough vs Stoke City Head to Head

When these two teams met at the Riverside Stadium back in April, an early Britt Assombalonga goal settled it

Only one goal was scored in the two Championship games last term, with the pair drawing 0-0 at the bet365 Stadium

Two of the last four meetings have ended in draws

Stoke have not won at Boro since August 1997

 

 

Stoke City News and Form – Can the Potters pick up a rare away win?

Since Michael O’Neill took over last month, Stoke City have had a mixed bag of results. The Northern Ireland manager started with back-to-back wins over Barnsley and Wigan Athletic. However, four points from a possible 15 has followed. Overall, the Potters have won three, lost three and drawn one under O’Neill.

Stoke have been very poor on the road in recent months, losing four of their last five. Only five clubs have taken fewer away points, with City losing seven of ten.

Like Middlesbrough, Stoke could really do with a win on Friday night. However, having won just two, drawn one and lost a staggering seven of ten away league fixtures, that will be an arduous task for O’Neill’s side.

Middlesbrough vs Stoke City Tips & Odds

Draw and both teams to score at 10/11
1-1 correct score at 5/1
* (Betting Odds were taken from bet365 on December 18th, 2019 at 16:45 p.m.)

Middlesbrough vs Stoke City Predictions

Draw: Both teams will have wanted to be in the mix for promotion this season. However, unless they have a huge upswing in fortunes in the second half of the campaign, that is very unlikely to happen.

Woodgate, a former captain at the Riverside, has found life tough going as a manager so far. However, with the pressure on, the Boro boss has managed to guide the club to successive home wins over Barnsley and Charlton.

O’Neill started at the bet365 Stadium with a bang, winning both of his first two matches in charge, but Stoke’s form has gone downhill since then. Nevertheless, I can see City leaving the Riverside with a precious point on Friday. Have a punt on the draw and both teams to score (7/2). There’s also good value in the 1-1 draw at 5/1.