Bolton vs MIddlesbrough Betting Tips & Predictions

Middlesbrough are as short as 1/4 to win this game which is almost unprecedented in this league certainly for an away win. Boro have found their form again after a very rocky patch and have racked up 5 successive wins coming into this one to once again assume top spot in the Championship. If Boro can win 4 of their final 5 games they will guarantee themselves a place in the Premier League next term and they may not need that many. They have been doing just enough to win games rather than blitzing teams though and their last two wins have come via a 1-0 victory at home to Preston before Adam Forshaw popped to give them a dramatic last gasp winner against Reading at the Riverside in midweek.

Right now it looks highly likely there will be two divisions separating these clubs next season. Bolton’s relegation was confirmed last week and they haven’t won since beating Rotherham in early Ferbruary. All of their last 5 matches have ended in defeat, the most recent of which was a 4-1 loss at Derby last weekend and they have been on the wrong end of some heavy scorelines on the road of late.

This though could be a lot closer than the bookies are suggesting for various reasons. Firstly the Championship is a highly unpredictable league and anyone can beat anyone on any given day. Middlesbrough have lost 3 of their last 4 away games and have already lost at struggling Rotherham, Charlton and Bristol City in 2016. Bolton have been at the very least competitive on their home ground and now their relegation is confirmed may be able to play with a bit less pressure on them.

Perhaps the most interesting stat here is that Bolton have been beaten by more than 1 goal in only 1 of their last 38 Championship home games and for that reason backing Bolton +2 Goal Handicap at 19/20 doesn’t look such a bad shout here against a Boro side that aren’t entirely convincing away from home.