Huddersfield vs Middlesbrough prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-12-28 19:45.
After criticising his players for a lack of “appetite” during a recent five-game winless run (D3, L2), Huddersfield boss Darren Moore was feeling much more positive on Boxing Day, as his Terriers posted a huge 3-0 win against Blackburn. That result left them five points clear of the drop zone ahead of the round, meaning that they will enter 2024 with their heads above water at the very least.
The home faithful may hope to round the year off in style given Huddersfield has posted wins in the final game of each of the last four calendar years. Playing against a Middlesbrough side that they remain unbeaten against in three of the last four home league H2Hs (W1, D2, L2) may be a boost in that regard, yet Moore himself has been on the losing side in all three of his personal H2Hs.
Boro travel here on the back of a 1-0 loss to Terriers’ relegation rivals Rotherham, although the scoreline in that game doesn’t paint an accurate picture of how proceedings played out with the visiting side having over 70% possession, over ten times the xG (1.25) and ten times as many goal attempts (20)! Despite that, a “baffled” Boro boss Michael Carrick had to settle for an abrupt end to his side’s three-game winning run.
Still just three points from the top-six, Middlesbrough can theoretically cut that gap with a win here. They are also used to ending the year with a bang in recent times, running out victorious in four of their last five year-ending league games (W4, L1). But improving a porous away defence will be key in continuing that trend as Middlesbrough have won just one of their last five away league games despite scoring at least twice in four (D1, L3).
Players to watch: Delano Burgzorg hit his fourth and fifth goal contributions from his last seven appearances for Huddersfield (G4, A1) to cap off their Boxing Day victory, yet he has not scored in back-to-back appearances in England so far. As for Boro, Sammy Silvera helped dump Huddersfield out of the League Cup with his first goal for the club back in August, while he also made goal contributions in two of his last four appearances (G1, A1).
Hot stat: Middlesbrough possesses one of the worst win rates as pre-match betting favourites in the Championship (41% – W7, D3, L7).