Middlesbrough vs Derby Betting Tips

These were the two favourites for promotion before a ball was kicked and little we have seen over the first half of the campaign has changed that perspective. Both sides are odds on to be playing in the Premiership next season and currently both are picking up enough points from their other matches that this game could have only a little bearing on either side’s prospects.

Derby have suffered just 1 defeat in their last 19 matches so have no reason to fear a trip to the Riverside and they’ve taken 10 points from their last 4 matches although had to show spirit late on to grab a point at Leeds last time out when Tom Ince netted a late leveller in a 2-2 draw.

Middlesbrough have lost twice as many games as Derby but have won 6 of their last 7 although they were also not at their best last time out when they were 1-0 winners at home to Sheffield Wednesday.

This is a clash of the best two defences in the league. Middlesbrough have an exceptional defensive record and haven’t conceded a goal in any of their last 7 matches. They’ve only let in two all season at the Riverside and have kept 8 consecutive clean sheets at the stadium.

Derby will put that record to the test and the Rams have also kept 8 clean sheets in their last 11 games. Their ability to keep the ball and restrict the number of times their opposition get it in dangerous areas is a big reason for that.

With both sides so mean defensively, backing ‘No’ in the ‘Both teams to Score’ market is surely the way to go here at 8/11.

Both managers might be quite content to get this game out the way without defeat and it could develop into a fairly cautious affair. Middlesbrough are the favourites but have only scored 4 goals themselves in their last 5 home games so backing this to finish 0-0 at 7/1 might be the wise bet in the correct score market.