MATCH PREVIEW: MIDDLESBROUGH 1-0 WEST BROM (ENGLAND: CHAMPIONSHIP) FREE BETTING PICKS FOR TODAY, AUGUST 24
League: ENGLAND: Championship – Round 5
Match: 19:45 Middlesbrough – West Brom
Prediction: Over 1.5 Goals
Average odds: 1.39
Bookmaker: Bwin
Result: 1:0 LOST
MATCH PREVIEW
| It’s a clash of the titans in the Championship as top of the fledgling table, Middlesbrough, entertain third-placed West Brom. Tony Pulis’ Middlesbrough side defend an unbeaten league record so far here (W3, D1) whilst Darren Moore’s ‘Baggies’ look to continue improving game by game (W2, D1, L1). |
| Despite much criticism over the summer in relation to transfer activity, Pulis has proved his doubters wrong after the Boro have gone now 313 minutes of Championship football without conceding a goal. |
| This will most definitely be the biggest test of Boro’s defending credentials so far. West Brom put seven goals past QPR last time out and are unbeaten vs Middlesbrough in their last eight meetings (W4, D4) although this is the first meeting since the 2016/17 Premier League campaign. |
| After last weeks romp, West Brom are by far the highest scorers in the league with 13 goals after four games, which makes for an interesting prospect against a typically astute defence. |
| The apprentice meets the teacher, as Moore served as Pulis’ assistant until the end of his tenure at WBA. |
| Players to watch: Martin Braithwaite has unexpectedly burst onto the scene for Middlesbrough this season, scoring in three of their four Championship games. |
| West Brom’s Jay Rodriguez (four) and Matt Phillips (three) have seven goals between them already this season, both players scored a brace last time out. |
| Stat attack: Middlesbrough are the only side to have been winning at both half-time and full-time, whilst keeping a clean sheet in all of their victories so far. |
| Pulis has a positive recent record against his former clubs since 2006 (W8, D2, L2). |
| West Brom are unbeaten on Teesside since the 2004/05 season. |
| It could be tight as both teams have not scored in five of the last six editions of this fixture. |
Match Preview by FlashScore.com
MARCH (+1400 EURO)