Middlesbrough vs QPR prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-02-17 15:00.
Middlesbrough’s slim hopes of achieving automatic promotion were kept alive by a stunning 3-1 comeback victory at second-placed Sheffield United last time out. Not only did Boro defy the odds to win in front of the Sky cameras, it also confirmed Michael Carrick as the best performing Boro boss ever after 16 league games (W12, D1, L3), surpassing the late great Jack Charlton – a man who saw Boro promoted to the top-flight back in 1973/74.
Next on Carrick’s agenda is to end Boro’s terrible winless run in H2Hs against Queens Park Rangers (D3, L4), including three straight home defeats therein. The Teessiders are at a rather short price to end that run and probably for good reason, as they’ve won as many home league games across the last five (W5), as they did in the 15 outings prior (D5, L5).
Unfortunately for QPR, a 3-0 home defeat to Sunderland in midweek extended their winless run to ten games (D5, L5) in a result which was especially frustrating after the Hoops missed a potentially equalising penalty. Deflated QPR boss Neil Critchley says his team don’t “lack heart or desire” but that clearly hasn’t been enough to stop their slide into the bottom-half of the table.
Playing away from home is unlikely to provide the Rs with any respite, as they’ve won just one of their last nine away league games (D4, L4) and none since Critchley’s first game in charge. Making a quick start may prove key to stopping the rot, with QPR unbeaten when scoring first (W5, D1), yet winless when conceding the opener (D2, L6), in away league games this season.
Players to watch: A run of four goals across his last four games has taken Chuba Akpom’s league-topping tally to 17 for the season, just three shy of becoming the first Boro player to hit 20+ league goals in a season since Bernie Slaven back in 1989/90! QPR new boy Chris Martin netted on his debut for the club and he now seeks a sixth goal contribution in what will be his 18th personal meeting with Boro (G2, A3).
Hot stat: Both teams have scored in a joint league-high 20 of Middlesbrough’s league games this season.