Blackburn vs Middlesbrough Predictions

These two sides had very different weeks in the Carabao Cup, with Blackburn setting up a second-round meeting with Sheffield United. Middlesbrough, on the other hand, were eliminated at the Riverside by League Two Crewe. That upset can’t have pleased Boro boss Jonathan Woodgate, but his side have shown some positive signs in recent weeks. They’ve played good football and they’re starting to get the most out of their forward players, so it seems like it’s only a matter of time before Boro find a beatable opponent.

Blackburn are currently bottom of the Championship after a slow start. While few expect them to end up in a relegation battle, there are obvious concerns for the hosts after their early results. They showed some fight in midweek, but a 3-2 win over Oldham at Ewood Park wasn’t enough to convince us that Tony Mowbray’s men are back to their very best. They looked disorganised at the back once again, while their league displays this season have been incredibly blunt going forward.

Middlesbrough may not have won yet this season, but they are showing more of an attacking edge. They’ve tweaked the system under Jonathan Woodgate, which makes their 4-3-3 work, with Ashley Fletcher as a wide forward who can cut inside and find space. It’s a style which has given Boro some positive performances so far, so it should eventually reward them with points. Could they finally get over the line with a victory against Blackburn on Saturday?

The visitors were able to edge possession against a highly-rated Brentford side at the weekend, while after two games they lead the division in terms of shots on target. They’re doing well getting their chances in, while the attacking style Woodgate is using is helping them to dominate games. It’s not a stretch to say that they could have won both of their opening matches, while their clash with Crewe saw Boro dominate in terms of possession and chances, only losing out by conceding in their rare shots on goal.

The good news for the visitors is that Blackburn have scored just once in their opening two games, with their flurry of shots not hitting the target. Defensive issues have contributed to them losing two from two, while they conceded in nine of their meetings with the top 10 at Ewood last season. Woodgate has a decent away record to work with – Middlesbrough lost just once away to sides ranked 11th or lower last term, including a 1-0 win against Rovers. Having lost just once in the last six clashes between these two, we think the visitors will see their attacking intent pay off this weekend. We’re backing Middlesbrough to edge this encounter.