Southampton vs Middlesbrough Predictions

• Unbeaten Middlesbrough have claimed 16 points from a possible 18 in the Championship this season.
• Southampton have failed to win five of their first six fixtures of the new Championship campaign.
• The Saints have managed to draw three of their last five matches in the division, however.

Middlesbrough to successfully protect their unbeaten record

Early pace-setters Middlesbrough are enjoying their best-ever start to a Championship campaign and their 2-1 win over West Brom last Friday allowed them to open up a four-point gap at the summit of the second-tier standings.

Summer signings, David Strelec and Kaly Sène, both scored their first Middlesbrough goals in last week’s victory over the Baggies, to add to the already positive mood at the club in the season’s early exchanges, and Middlesbrough look well-positioned to maintain their unbeaten start on Saturday.

Despite claiming 16 points from a possible 18, Middlesbrough have been priced as slight underdogs ahead of their trip to play Southampton, which opens up an opportunity to back the visitors in the double chance market at favourable odds.

Southampton have struggled to get going since their relegation and have won only one of their first six Championship fixtures under the instruction of summer appointee, Will Still.

The Saints gave a good account of themselves at Anfield in midweek before succumbing to another Liverpool (2-1) late show in the Carabao Cup, however, they were well off the pace when losing 3-1 to Hull in their last Championship test and cannot be backed with any confidence to improve against Boro.

Alongside backing Rob Edwards’ highflying Middlesbrough to avoid defeat at St. Mary’s Stadium, we’re angling towards a 1-1 draw for our correct score prediction.

As disappointing as they’ve been, Southampton have been conceding an average of just 1.0 goal per home game and only 1.50 goals per Championship fixture overall since August. The Saints have also shared the spoils in three of their last five league matches, and backing a low-scoring draw appeals again.