Middlesbrough vs Preston Predictions

• There have been fewer than three goals in nine of Middlesbrough’s last ten matches.
• There have been fewer than three goals in the last five Boro home Championship games.
• Preston North End have not scored in three of their last five Championship away contests.

PNE boss feeling the heat

Preston North End manager Frankie McAvoy is on thin ice ahead of his side’s trip to Middlesbrough, where a third straight defeat could see him shown the door.

PNE have won just five of 17 league games up to date and currently find themselves in 16th position and just six points off the relegation zone at this crucial stage of the campaign. McAvoy’s men were undone by two set pieces as they failed to capitalise on Sean Maguire’s second-minute effort against Cardiff City on Saturday.

That won’t have escaped the attention of Boro boss Chris Wilder as he looks to build on a 1-1 home draw with Millwall from his first game in charge.

Boro squad being stretched thin 

The Teessiders are being stretched thin by injuries and fitness issues at the moment and lacked the energy to push the Lions hard in the second half. They also lost Slovenian striker Andraz Sporar to an ankle knock at half-time, although he remains in contention to face Preston.

Given McAvoy’s desperation to avoid a defeat that could bring down the axe and Boro’s threadbare options at the moment, our advice here is to swerve the result betting and back a paucity of goals.

Boro have been ‘unders’ regulars this season and Preston have also failed to register in three of their last five away trips, which points is in the direction of a low-scoring affair.

Wilder may just be able to squeeze enough out of his side to land a narrow 1-0 win, however, which is our favoured correct score option.