Middlesbrough vs Ipswich Betting Tips & Predictions

Middlesbrough came very close to landing a killer blow on their rivals on Tuesday night. Leading 1-0 going into stoppage time at Burnley and seemingly on course for a 7th straight win, they conceded late on to leave the race for automatic promotion on a knife edge once more. Once the disappointment of that late goal sank in they will probably have reflected on a good result that keeps them top of the table but there is simply no room for slip-ups in this race with all the top three in great form. Middlesbrough travel to Birmingham before a crunch final day clash with Brighton at the Riverside so it is imperative that they pick up all 3 points here to maintain their 2 point advantage on the other two.

Ipswich still have a very feint hope of making the play-offs but trail 6th place Sheffield Wednesday by 8 points with only 3 games to play so they have to win all their remaining games to have any chance. They are winless in 6 matches though after another disappointing 1-1 home draw against Fulham in midweek. They’ve won only 1 of their last 10 away matches so won’t travel to the North-East with much belief but they can still be a tricky side to break down so Middlesbrough will have to play well to win the game.

The Tractor Boys have been really poor going forward in recent weeks. They’ve only scored 3 goals in their last 6 matches so up against the league’s meanest defence it is hard to see them getting on the scoresheet, certainly not more than once. They will most likely come with a cautious mentality and try to frustrate Boro, which isn’t an impossible thing to do as their goalscoring record is the joint worst in the top six. The hosts are playing well right now though and should have enough quality to break through the Ipswich defence so backing a 2-0 Middlesbrough win at 5/1 might be the way to go given Boro do have the best home record in the league.