Middlesbrough vs Burnley Betting Tips

With leaders Brighton still unbeaten and showing no signs of falling away, the pressure is really on the likes of Middlesbrough and Burnley to maintain their form and keep within touching distance of the Seagulls.

However Burnley are going through a worrying spell and a defeat here would leave them 8 points off the automatic promotion places, presuming Brighton avoid defeat in their game at QPR. The Clarets haven’t won any of their last 5 games and although they’ve lost only 1 of their last 11 games, the goals seem to have dried up of late which has only highlighted their reliance on new signing Andre Gray in that regard.

This is probably their toughest game of the season so far and it comes at the worst time. One consolation might come in that Middlesbrough were strangely out of sorts at the weekend when they were held to a 0-0 draw by Birmingham.

It’s still 10 points from 4 games for Boro though so that result shouldn’t at this point be regarded as anything more than a minor blip. They have won 19 of their last 25 Championship home games which is an incredible record in a league where anyone can beat anyone else on their day.

Boro have kept clean sheets in all of their last 6 home games in the league and have only conceded twice in 10 matches at the Riverside this season in the league. Given Burnley have only netted 3 times in their last 5 games, backing the hosts to keep a clean sheet at 6/5 surely represents excellent value.

It’d be unfair to call the Teesiders a defensive side though as only Fulham have scored more goals than them in the league this season. They should have enough quality to force a breakthrough at some point here and at 9/2 you can back the hosts to pick up what would be a significant 1-0 home win.