Middlesbrough vs Coventry prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-12-31 15:00.
After ending 2023 on a positive note with a 2-1 triumph at Huddersfield Town, Middlesbrough kick off the new year against Coventry City, the team that dealt the fatal blow to Boro’s play-off dreams last year. Michael Carrick’s men have had plenty of time to recover since that fateful night and remain well in the top-six race this time round, albeit as part of a highly congested group of chasing sides.
The home faithful were treated to a resurgent showing in their latest game at the Riverside – a 1-0 win over fellow play-off chasers West Bromwich Albion which ended a run of back-to-back defeats on their own patch. And while building on that with another victory doesn’t seem far-fetched given they are unbeaten in each of their last four New Year’s Day league games (W2, D2), they have the psychological barrier of a five-match winless H2H streak to overcome (D2, L3).
Beginning the round two points behind their hosts, Coventry head north after a frustrating 2-2 draw against Swansea City in which they led heading into stoppage time, though it is a result in keeping with their form over the last ten games (W5, D4, L1). A continuation of that positive sequence into 2024 could therefore be expected here, especially given that Mark Robins’ men have won four of their last five New Year’s Day outings.
Coventry’s struggles have largely come on their travels this term, picking up just two victories from their last seven trips (W2, D1, L4), so the Sky Blues have their work cut out to record a first league double over Boro since the 1992/93 campaign. Even so, it must be noted that Coventry are unbeaten in four of their six Championship away games this season as pre-match betting outsiders (W2, D2, L2).
Players to watch: Boro captain Jonny Howson incredibly missed a penalty and scored from a corner moments later on Friday, yet five of his last six league strikes have come at the Riverside. Haji Wright netted his first goal for Coventry in the reverse fixture against Middlesbrough in August (W 3-0), and four of his six goals since then have served as the opener.
Hot stat: Just two of the nine H2Hs since the turn of the decade have seen both teams score on the day.