Peterborough vs Middlesbrough Predictions

• Middlesbrough have a game in hand at least over the sides above them and know another win can push them back into the playoff spots.
• Peterborough United have failed to keep a clean sheet across their last nine games.
• The hosts are conceding an average of two goals per league game.

Each game a cup final for the hosts

Whilst Peterborough United look as though they’re resigned to relegation, a shock 3-1 victory over Queens Park Rangers last time out gave their survival chances a glimmer of hope. However, they still remain seven points adrift of safety and every match from here until the end of the season is essentially a cup final. This was echoed by boss Grant McCann after that victory, stating they’ll “give it everything”. However, in this match, they’ll need to end a run of seven matches without a victory on home soil.

The visitors were victims of a difference in quality in their last outing as they succumbed to a 2-0 home defeat to Chelsea in the FA Cup. But it should be mentioned that their cup run was nothing short of phenomenal, dispatching Manchester United at Old Trafford and emerging victorious against Tottenham Hotspur at the Riverside. It should give them the confidence of knowing they can perform at that level and they need that confidence for the final run-in of the Championship season. They’ve kept clean sheets in both of their last two away games and that can give them a platform to build on moving forward.

Boro to emerge victorious in closely fought encounter

We’re next expecting this to be a high scoring game as a defeat would be hugely detrimental to both sides’ seasonal goals. We do think that Middlesbrough can take confidence from their cup performances and after the international break, the visitors can put in a professional performance here. We think Chris Wilder’s men get the win with fewer than four goals in the match.