Middlesbrough vs MK Dons Betting Tips

After their play-off final heartbreak last term, Middlesbrough have responded well and are rightly seen as the early promotion favourites. That brings its own pressure as perhaps Derby are finding out to their cost but their 3-1 victory at Sheffield Wednesday, who had made a strong start to the season, last time out was very impressive and backed up their billing as serious contenders.

Cristhian Stuani scored his first league goal in the win to add to the four he’s already netted in the Capital One Cup. Stuani also scored for Uruguay during the international break and his capture was a real coup for the club and he appears to have settled quickly into English football, which was the only question-mark against the purchase. MK Dons defenders certainly aren’t used to facing strikers of serious international calbibre and this game could be a steep learning curve for them.

That is not to say this will be an easy game for Middlesbrough. They were beaten at home by another of the newly promoted clubs, last time out at the Riverside when Bristol City came away with a shock 1-0 win. However it is hard to see such a quick repeat of that given the Teesiders have a very strong home record and had lost just twice in 23 home Championship games prior to that.

They have won 13 of their last 17 at the Riverside in all competitions and 9 of them have been to nil such is the quality of their defence. Another win to nil here looks extremely good value at 6/4.

MK Dons had a reputation for playing exciting, attacking football in League One but Karl Robinson seems to have realised they can’t play the same way in this league and they’ve been much more cautious in their last few games. They have only scored 1 goal in their last 4 Championship matches but are still well placed, just inside the top half in their debut season at this level.

They are highly unlikely to revert to their at times cavalier attacking philosophy away to what the bookies see as the strongest side in the league. They’ve had a lot of the ball in recent weeks without really creating a great deal of openings and it’s hard to see them seriously troubling an excellent home defence.

Therefore a routine 2-0 win for Middlesbrough could be on the cards as they may opt to withdraw their internationals should they go 2 up given there is a full midweek fixture list also. Odds of 10/1 on a 2-0 home win certainly represent excellent value here.