Birmingham City (home)
- This Monday’s Championship fixture pits two teams with contrasting styles and recent form lines against each other with Boro in second spot with 63 points from 34 games and Birmingham City tenth with 49 from the same number of games.
- Birmingham City’s home record this season in the Championship is W8, D7, L1.
- Chris Davies has been Birmingham’s secret weapon this term as he has instilled a control-the-ball, aggressive pressing game that has caused opponents all kinds of problems.
Middlesbrough (away)
- Middlesbrough’s away record in the Championship this season is W8, D4, L5.
- Boro have been a bit wobbly in their last five with two wins, two draws and one defeat, while the Blues have been much more impressive with three wins, a draw and one loss from their last five.
- Boro have stayed true to their DNA under Kim Hellberg, who has recently taken charge, with the Swedish coach continuing to promote their short-passing game and compact nature.
Head-to-Head
Birmingham are the slight favorites at 2.48 with Boro at 2.64 , but with the visitors having won the last two head-to-head meetings in the Championship and Birmingham failing to win their last two home games against Boro, it is difficult to pick a winner in this game.
Key Players
- Both sides have a go-to goal-scorer in Jay Stansfield, who has nine Championship goals in 32 appearances for the hosts, and Morgan Whittaker, who has scored 11 in 33 for Boro.
- But Boro are also in the market to score as Riley McGree has been in red-hot form, bagging three of Boro's last five goals.
Betting Insights
There is value in the Over 2.5 goals option at 1.85 , however, as Davies’ philosophy will always leave his side open to the counter and both teams will be looking to attack.
Prediction
The hosts have been in good form and are the more likely to win, but Boro’s away resilience should give them enough to at least avoid defeat in what should be a hard-fought battle.
