Middlesbrough vs Brentford Prediction and Football Tips
Championship play-off football tips – Middlesbrough vs Brentford prediction
The big news ahead of this play-off semi-final second leg, is that the Championship player of the year, Patrick Bamford could be missing with injury. The striker did not look at his best in the first leg and with the advantage Middlesbrough take in to this game, might not be risked. That could mean a place in the team for Spaniard Kike.
Brentford manager Mark Warburton has a fully fit squad to choose from and may go with the same team that came up short in the first leg. The only extra inclusion could be Chris Long, who is on loan from Everton and available for selection again.
Probable Line-ups
Middlesbrough: 4-2-3-1 formation: Konstantopoulos, Whitehead, Ayala, Gibson, Friend; Clayton, Leadbitter; Adomah, Tomlin, Vossen; Kike
Brentford: 4-2-3-1 formation: Button; Bidwell, Tarkowski, Dean, Odubajo; Douglas, Diagouraga; Pritchard, Judge, Jota; Gray
- Middlesbrough have won 6, drawn 1 and lost 3 of their last 10 matches
- Brentford have won 4, drawn 4 and lost 2 of their last 10 matches
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Middlesbrough have scored an average of 1.2 goals and conceded an average of 1.1 goals per game
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Brentford have scored an average of 2 goals and conceded an average of 1.3 goals per game
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 4 of Middlesbrough’s previous 10 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 7 of Brentford’s previous 10 matches
- The first leg finished 2-1 in the favour of Middlesbrough at Griffin Park
Middlesbrough come in to this game with a good advantage from the first leg. Having defeated Brentford in their previous 3 meetings this season, Aitor Karanka will feel he has the edge over Mark Warburton’s team and can finish the job off at the Riverside with a win.
Middlesbrough are undefeated in their last 7 games at the Riverside and have only suffered 3 defeats there all season. Brentford need a repeat of their Championship final day 2-0 victory at Reading to progress but their record against Middlesbrough has been poor, losing 4-0 there earlier in the season.
Brentford have to go for goals and without Patrick Bamford, Middlesbrough will certainly be weaker but should still have enough to win the leg and the tie overall.
We say: Middlesbrough to win and both teams to score at 3/1 with Bet365
What are your play-off predictions and football tips?