Leeds v Middlesbrough Championship, 15th February
The wheels have started to come off the title challenge of Middlesbrough in the Championship. They have put together a four match winless streak, but they will have their sights set on turning things around at Elland Road on Monday night as they take on Leeds. The Whites have won just one of their last six and have already suffered a big defeat at the hands of Boro this season. Can Leeds take advantage of Boro’s dip in form though to exact a little bit of revenge? Middlesbrough are 23/20 to take the win, with the draw at 12/5 and Leeds at 14/5.
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Key Stats – Leeds v Middlesbrough
Leeds have won the last three on home soil against Middlesbrough
Leeds have been been winning at half time in just one league match at home this season
Middlesbrough have conceded just 16 league goals all season
All five games in which Boro have been level at half time on the road, the score has been 0-0 at the break
Leeds v Middlesbrough Betting Tips
There hasn’t been a lot to cheer about for Leeds fans this year and they lost last time out at Elland Road, going down 1-0 against Nottingham Forest recently. That did snap a five match unbeaten streak at home for The Whites in the Championship, however, they have managed to post just a W4 D5 L6 record at home in the English second tier this season. There has been a lack of conviction up front from them, they are are lowest scoring side in the current top 18 in the Championship and only four teams have scored fewer goals than their tally of 29 across the season. When Leeds went to the Riverside earlier in the season for a league meeting with Boro, they were beaten easily in a 3-0 scoreline. That having been said, they are in good home form against Boro, having won the last three at Elland Road against them.
Leeds have actually only lost one of the last five meetings with Boro in the Championship (this season’s earlier meeting). So not bad head to head form here at all. Leeds have struggled for goals this season and with Boro’s solid defence coming to town, you would imagine that this game is going to go under 2.5 goals for a price of 1/2 with online betting site Sky Bet. Only 25% of games at Elland Road this season have gone over 2.5 goals. Could be worth pushing for a draw at half time with Leeds having been level at the break in 8 of their 15 home games this season, that can be backed around a price of even money. Only in one of the last six meetings between them have both teams scored in a match, so don’t expect fireworks here.
Middlesbrough are winless in their last four league games (D2 L2). They are four without a clean sheet now after posting an incredible run of nine clean sheets on the bounce in the Championship. They have claimed sixteen clean sheets in 29 league games this season, which is highly impressive. They have conceded more than one goal in just two games all season long. Five of Boro’s last nine league games have been settled by a 1-0 scoreline, two of them by a 1-1 scoreline. So you kind of know what to expect from Boro. Both of those options can be backed around the 5/1 price in the Correct Score market. Three of the last six between these two have been settled by a 1-0 scoreline (Leeds two wins, Boro one). The visitors have far superior fire scoring power with Jordan Rhodes at 6/4 and David Nugent at 2/1 in the anytime goalscorer market and that may be enough to tip the balance in their favour.
Who will win – Leeds v Middlesbrough Predictions
Right off the back you can expect this to be a tight scrap. There haven’t been many goals flying around Elland Road this season and Boro have got a great defence, but have only scored two league goals in their last four games. Look for a low scoring game and a 1-0 correct score option on the side of Boro has to have appeal, just because they have the better attack and Leeds having won just one of their last eight league matches.