Middlesbrough
- Boro are second in the Championship 2025-2026 table on 61 points from 32 games.
- Promotion-chasing Boro will be confident of putting the Oxford relegation threat to the sword on Saturday as Kim Hellberg’s side have won four of their last five games.
Oxford United
- Oxford United, on the other hand, have won one, drawn one and lost three of their last five - a run that has seen Matt Bloomfield’s men draw 0-0 at Coventry City and lose 3-0 at home to Norwich City.
- Bloomfield, who took over at the U’s in January 2026, has forged a hard-working, disciplined and well-organised structure around the club and team.
- His preferred 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation is ideal for slowing games down, keeping numbers in and being patient when out of possession.
- But Boro are so fast and intense that Oxford may be obliged to sit deep and try to frustrate their hosts before hitting on the break.
Head-to-Head
- Boro have won ten, drawn three and lost two of their 15 home games in the Championship in 2025-2026.
- Oxford have won three of their 16 away matches in the Championship in 2025-2026, conceding an average of 1.38 goals per game away from home.
Key Players
- Morgan Whittaker has been a reliable scoring option for Boro, netting 11 times in 31 Championship appearances this term, and could make an impact on Saturday.
- Oxford’s top scorer in the league this term is Will Lankshear, who has six in 30, and his lack of goals underscores the problem the U’s have in the final third.
- Tommy Conway has found his shooting boots of late, scoring four of Boro’s last ten goals in their previous five games, and could be worth a goal at higher odds.
Betting Insights
Betting on Boro to win with Over 2.5 goals in the game looks a good way to get more value out of the home win, with the 'Over 2.5 goals' market priced at 1.73 .
Prediction
However, all the evidence points to the hosts recording a comfortable win at the Riverside.
