Millwall vs Middlesbrough prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2024-01-12 15:00.
With just four points separating Millwall from Middlesbrough amongst the glut of mid-table sides ahead of this round, the Lions have an opportunity to close that gap to a point if they can record a first league double over Boro since 2012/13. The Lions have come a long way since defeating the Teessiders 1-0 on opening weekend, most recently putting together an impressive five-game unbeaten run of league games (W3, D2).
The three wins in that sequence brought up the run and all came without reply, handing Joe Edwards’ side the chance to post four straight Championship successes for the first time since 2022. Yet doing that at The Den may be tougher than their favourites tag suggests, as Millwall are one of only two Championship sides, along with QPR, to pick up below 50% of their points haul in home action (47%).
Things haven’t been going particularly well in the league for Boro of late, with two defeats from their last three games keeping them just out of reach of the top six. Yet league matters have been the last thing on Boro fans’ minds this week as they put themselves potentially 90 minutes from a historic Wembley appearance with a stunning 1-0 win against Premier League Chelsea on Tuesday night in the League Cup semi-final first leg.
This upcoming trip to London is arguably even more important, certainly as far as Boro’s faltering promotion tilt is concerned and Michael Carrick shouldn’t let his side’s outsider status faze them after winning three of their last four competitive away matches. Boro have a rather rotten run to end in the capital to contend with though, as they’ve failed to win any of their last eight away league games in London (D3, L5).
Players to watch: Millwall’s Duncan Watmore scored 21 goals over three seasons as a Boro player, and three of his five goals since making the switch to London have been match openers. As for Boro, Hayden Hackney scored a goal which will go down in local folklore for his hometown club in their midweek semi-final, but just one of his five senior goals for the club came on his travels.
Hot stat: Middlesbrough went on to lose in three of their last six league games when scoring the opener (W3, L3).