Middlesbrough vs Bristol City Predictions

• Middlesbrough have won two of their four league games since Neil Warnock’s appointment
• Bristol City have picked up only one point in their last five away league games
• Both teams have scored in only two of Boro’s last ten league encounters

Boro can get the victory they crave

Middlesbrough have shown significant improvement since appointing Neil Warnock as manager and they can record a third win in five games since his arrival at the expense of Bristol City.

Warnock’s Riverside tenure got off to the best possible start as they won 2-0 at relegation rivals Stoke a fortnight ago and although defeats against Hull (2-1) and QPR (1-0) were to follow, they were back with a bang as they ran out 2-0 victors at Millwall last time out.

Boro tried to play attractive, possession-based football under Jonathan Woodgate with necessarily possessing the quality to do so but Warnock has reverted back to basics and he should be better at maximising this squad’s potential, favouring the front two of Ashley Fletcher and Britt Assombalonga.

Both Fletcher and Assombalonga were on target in the 2-0 win at The Den and their physical, direct approach should cause plenty of problems for mid-table Bristol City.

With two clean sheets and only three goals conceded in Warnock’s four games in charge, Boro are defending resolutely and the quality they have in their ranks should probably see them much higher than their current league position.

Robins may struggle to follow up Hull success

Bristol City had lost their first four games after the Championship’s resumption but the change in manager, replacing the sacked Lee Johnson with interim boss Dean Holden, had the desired effect as they recorded a 2-1 win at home to Hull on Wednesday.

A poor June has put pay to their playoff hopes and with little at stake they could be vulnerable at a well-organised Boro outfit in desperate need of the points.

Despite winning at home to Hull, the Robins were hardly convincing and losing the shot count 18-9 hosting a side embroiled in a relegation scrap highlights there is still work to be done by Holden.

Bristol City failed to score in defeats to Nottingham Forest and Cardiff prior to that and they have picked up only one point in their last five away league assignments.

Visitors may be frustrated by well-drilled hosts

Middlesbrough are set-up to frustrate teams under Warnock’s new tactics and they have the resources to keep Bristol City at bay.

City are still adapting to life under interim boss Holden and there wasn’t enough in their 2-1 win at home to Hull to suggest they had improved markedly for the change of coach.

Both teams have scored in only two of Boro’s last ten league games and we predict Warnock’s men to win with a clean sheet.

Boro have recorded their last six Championship wins to nil, with four of those successes finishing 2-0 including their last two against Stoke and Millwall. Our prediction is for Boro to ease their relegation fears with another win by that margin.