Middlesbrough vs Aston Villa Predictions

• Aston Villa have seen both teams score in each of their last five away games.
• Boro have scored in eight of their last ten matches.

Boro can trouble fragile Villa back line

Middlesbrough are big underdogs for Saturday’s FA Cup Third Round tie with Aston Villa but the hosts should at least be able to get on the scoresheet against a defensively frail visiting side.

The Villans have defied all expectations to head into 2024 second in the Premier League table and just three points off top spot, but their success is largely reliant on their scintillating attack.

At the back it’s a different story, with their 3-2 win over Burnley last time out leaving them without a clean sheet in five games, while they have shut out the opposition in just two of their 14 competitive away games this season.

Close match expected at the Riverside

Boro, who have lost two of their last three matches, have found the net in eight of their last ten in all competitions but have only two clean sheets in this sequence, making both teams to score a solid bet for Saturday’s tie at the Riverside.

I do expect Villa to come out on top but, with rotation expected from Unai Emery, it may not be a walkover. Villa have scored exactly two goals in four of their last five away games and Boro have scored exactly once in each of their last three at home, so a 2-1 correct score prediction appeals.