Middlesbrough vs Sheffield Wed prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2024-03-31 14:00.
[p]With a yawning nine-point gap to the play-off places and just seven league games to go, Middlesbroughâs forlorn promotion hopes are all but dead in the water after their 1-1 draw against Southampton on Good Friday. Their late equaliser did at least keep a positive run of form going, extending their unbeaten streak to five games (W3, D2) as they try to build foundations for next season.[/p]
[p]Michael Carrickâs men return to the Riverside with a poor record of no win on Easter Monday in any of their last eight attempts (D3, L5), while they have only won one of their last six home games (D3, L2). Even so, they did win both of their historic Easter Monday H2Hs against Sheffield Wednesday, with those two victories producing eight Middlesbrough goals to Wednesdayâs one.[/p]
[p]It wasnât a particularly good Friday for the Owls, who missed the opportunity to escape the bottom three as they drew 1-1 against Swansea, frustratingly surrendering their lead in the final 15 minutes. They head into April locked with two other sides on either side of the dotted line on 39 points, so any kind of positive result here could see them finally rise out of the relegation zone after whatâs been an incredibly arduous season.[/p]
[p]Unlike their hosts, Wednesday have won each of their last five games played on Easter Monday, scoring 15 times whilst conceding only twice. Extending that run to six doesnât seem beyond the realms of possibility after notching two wins âto nilâ across the last three away league games (L1), which is as many away league victories as they had posted in their first 16 trips of the season![/p]
[p]Key battle: Seny Dieng has been a giant between the sticks for Boro and Senegal, keeping four consecutive clean sheets until Southamptonâs early goal on Friday. Trying to get the better of him will be Wednesdayâs main threat, IkĂ© Ugbo. Four of the Canadianâs six goals since making the switch to the club have been match-winners. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Just three of the last 28 league H2Hs have ended level (MID: W15, D3, L10). [/p]