West Brom vs Middlesbrough prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-02-24 15:00.
After winning ten of his first 13 Championship games in charge of West Bromwich Albion (W10, L3), manager Carlos Corberán was rewarded with a contract extension until 2027. Since then, the Baggies have conceded six times across three winless games (D1, L2), culminating in a 3-2 defeat away to Watford in a game rife with defensive mishaps, though Corberán did praise the “spirit” of his side in the aftermath of that game.
Returning to form in this swift run of games ahead of the international break will be crucial to West Brom reviving their faltering play-off push, so a Hawthorns return could be just the tonic. Currently unbeaten in eight straight competitive home games (W7, D1), West Brom will do well to extend that streak as they welcome the Championship’s form side, Middlesbrough.
In fact across the top-five footballing countries in Europe, only Barcelona have picked up more points than Boro’s 27 across the last ten league games (W9, L1). That in itself is testament to Michael Carrick’s effect on the Teessiders, but he’s also written his name in local folklore as the strongest starting manager after 17 league games in the club’s 147-year history (W13, D1, L3)!
That incredible start has seen Boro cut the gap to second-placed Sheffield United to just four points, down from ten points just a couple of weeks ago. Boro aren’t just winning games either, they’re winning them well, as evidenced by their current run of four straight three-goal hauls for the first time since a club-record run of five almost 30 years ago at the tail end of 1993!
Players to watch: West Brom’s Jayson Molumby has been in the thick of the action lately, providing three goal contributions (G1, A2) and receiving as many bookings across his last four appearances. Looking to outdo him will be the Championship top-scorer, Boro’s Chuba Akpom (G19). One more goal would make him the first player to hit 20 league goals for the club in one season since Bernie Slaven in 1989/90!
Hot stat: West Brom have conceded just one goal across the last 13 hours of competitive home play.