Blackburn vs Middlesbrough prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2022-12-28 19:45.
It looked certain that Blackburn Rovers were heading towards their first draw of the Championship season on Boxing Day before they cruelly lost in stoppage time. Manager John Dahl Tomasson conceded that his side âmust do betterâ after that 2-1 defeat against Sunderland, but he canât complain too much as their topsy-turvy form sees them sitting pretty in third place despite losing as many games (W13, L11) as 22nd-placed Blackpool!
Tomassonâs men had put together an impressive six-game winning run of home games ahead of the World Cup, yet since the return theyâve played out back-to-back 4-1 defeats at Ewood Park in league and cup action. Rovers have a great chance to bounce back against Middlesbrough though, a side that theyâre unbeaten against in 14 of the last 15 league H2Hs (W6, D8).
It was a full Christmas âtreeâ points for Middlesbrough on Boxing Day as a sold-out Riverside Stadium roared them on to a 4-1 victory against Wigan to move within two points of the play-offs. Boro boss Michael Carrick admitted itâs his responsibility to âentertain and exciteâ in order to keep the good times rolling on Teesside, and considering Boro have risen from 19th place to 11th since his appointment, heâs certainly making a good fist of it (W5, D1, L2).
Although Middlesbrough havenât scored against Blackburn here in almost four years, playing away hasnât been an issue for them lately with as many wins across their last four league trips (W3, L1) as in the 19 prior. Though it remains to be seen if Boro can continue that run, there should at the very least be entertainment, as a league-high nine Middlesbrough away games have produced over 2.5 goals, including each of the last six.
Players to watch: Sam Gallagher hasnât scored since October but he has hit each of Blackburnâs last four goals against Middlesbrough, earning his side two wins in the process. It was a Boxing Day to remember for Boroâs Chuba Akpom as he became the first player since Patrick Bamford in 2018 to hit a hat-trick for the club, moving him level at the top of the Championship scoring charts (G12).
Hot stat: Blackburn have failed to win their final league game in eight of the last nine calendar years (W1, D3, L5).