Middlesbrough vs Luton Predictions

• Middlesbrough have a 100% record at home to the bottom 8.
• Luton have lost 14 of their 16 away trips in the Championship this term.
• The visitors have lost each of their last 11 trips in the league.
• Boro have won 1-0 in 5 of their 6 home victories this term.

Boro Remain Concerned

The hosts may have pulled themselves away from the bottom three, but they’ve still got reason to look over their shoulder. Middlesbrough are just seven points clear of the bottom three, so they need to make the most of this clash against a fellow struggler.

Luton are second-bottom in the table and they’re on course for a speedy return to League One. They’ve been in dire form throughout the campaign, but can they cause a huge surprise at the Riverside?

Middlesbrough’s Redemption

This has been a difficult first season in charge for Middlesbrough boss Jonathan Woodgate. The club are in the bottom six, having expected to be at least around the top half. However, Boro spent a chunk of the season in the danger zone with only their home form saving them. The hosts have been remarkably consistent against the sides around them, making the most of a small window.

Boro have won eight times in 32 games this season, including six home victories. Each of those six home wins have come against teams in the bottom eight in the division. They have a 100% record against sides in that position, but they need to make the most of their final two games at the Riverside against sides battling the drop.

Travelling Troubles

A big part of Luton’s struggle this season has been their inability to win on the road. They have the 18th-best home record, but they are joint-worst away from home. The Hatters have won just two of their 16 matches on their travels this season. Meanwhile, they’ve lost all of the other 14. Luton have conceded in every trip, scoring in just over half with just 14 goals in 16 trips.

The visitors look incredibly poor, while they have lost 11 straight Championship trips going into this meeting with Boro. They’ve lost 14 of 15 trips to sides above them in the table, so we see value in backing a victory for Boro here.

The hosts come into this one having claimed each of their home victories by a single goal margin. They’ve won 1-0 in five of their six home successes, while 88% of their league wins have come with a clean sheet. As a result, we’re backing the hosts to secure a 1-0 victory when they host Luton this weekend.