Back Boro to come good in the second half against the Clarets
Middlesbrough's 13 matches at the Riverside have contained just ten first-half goals, so expect any decisive action to occur after the break.
It’s hardly been a thrill a minute at the Riverside this season but Middlesbrough have pinched enough points to keep themselves right in the thick of the Championship automatic promotion race.
Boss Tony Mowbray has set his side up to be tough to beat and as a result of the joint best defensive record in the division, Boro begin the weekend in fourth place, two points off Southampton in top spot.
It’s a good job that skipper Matthew Bates and company can shut teams out because going forward, Boro have been about as sharp as a spacehopper, scoring just 30 times in 25 league outings.
Mowbray’s men have only scored more than once in eight of their Championship ties and five of their 12 wins have come by a one-goal margin.
| Champions League | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dortmund | 1-2 | Bayern Munich | £155.00 | (27/4) |
| Dortmund | 0-1 | Bayern Munich | £160.00 | (7/1) |
| Dortmund | 0-2 | Bayern Munich | £175.00 | (31/4) |
| Dortmund win | £76.00 | (14/5) | ||
| Draw | £84.00 | (16/5) | ||
| Bayern Munich win | £35.00 | (3/4) | ||
They might not draw comparisons with Barcelona but Boro generally get the job done, which is why bwin’s 3Way football betting market has them at 19/20 to beat Burnley at home this weekend, with the Clarets priced at a distant 29/10 and the draw at 11/5.
The Riverside has been just over half-full on average this season and given that the natives have been treated to just 15 home goals in 13 showings, it has hardly been a surprise.
Just seven first-half goals scored and a miserly three conceded all campaign on home soil continues Middleborough’s paint-drying theme and they’ve gone into the interval all square on five occasions at the Riverside.
Even last time out against lowly League Two outfit Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup, Boro only managed another slender 1-0 win, making it three wins from four by that scoreline on home turf.
Goals will be at a premium in this one so a Boro win with fewer than 3.5 goals at 31/20 seems safe enough and Boro to win without conceding is 21/10.
Burnley should take heart from recent impressive away wins at Brighton, West Ham and Hull, so their price of 29/10 could be viewed as long – but those results have also been punctuated by defeats at Leeds, Birmingham, Bristol City and Peterborough.
Out of 12 away games, Burnley have won and lost six apiece with no draws, so expect a victor on Teesside. However, the best bit of business will be for that result to be confirmed during the second half.
Just seven first-half goals scored and a miserly three conceded all campaign on home soil continues Middleborough’s paint-drying theme and they’ve gone into the interval all square on five occasions at the Riverside.
Therefore, my punt for this weekend is to back the half-time draw followed by a Middlesbrough win at a very tasty 4/1.
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