Brentford vs Middlesbrough Betting Tips

Brentford haven’t made a great start to 2016, losing both games in the year so far. They were beaten 2-1 at Birmingham in the Championship prior to a 1-0 home defeat to Walsall in the FA Cup on Saturday. They had though only suffered 1 defeat in 9 Championship matches prior to that and are only 5 points outside the play-off places.

These sides met in the play-offs last season with Middlesbrough ultimately making fairly comfortable progress but the Teesiders will be determined to secure automatic promotion this season and they are looking very good for it.

Like Brentford, Boro were eliminated from the FA Cup at the weekend but it was a much changed side that Aitor Karanka named and they ought to be fresh for this game.

In the league MIddlesbrough have been absolutely outstanding of late and their 2-0 win over closest rivals Derby last time out has cemented the idea that they are the strongest side in the division. They are currently 4 points clear at the top with a game in hand on their nearest rivals and since losing at Hull in early November, Boro haven’t conceded a single goal in 8 Championship matches, 7 of which have resulted in victory.

Middlesbrough won twice at Griffin Park last season and given the way they have been playing, they look excellent value at 5/4 to do likewise again here.

Brentford are a positive side and are likely to cause them more problems than some of their recent opponents so they may finally concede in this one but at 8/1 they are worth backing to secure a 2-1 victory.