Sheffield Wed vs Middlesbrough prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-09-18 19:00.
Sheffield Wednesday boss Xisco Muñoz had little alternative than to say he is “so sorry” to the fans after a 1-0 defeat against fellow promoted side Ipswich extended the Owls’ bleak beginning to the league season (D1, L5). In spite of that woeful start to their survival fight, Wednesday can at least boast a higher position than last season’s play-off semi-finalists, rock-bottom Middlesbrough.
These adversaries make up two of just four sides across the EFL that have just one point to their name, so the South Yorkshire outfit will be hoping this is the day to get that first victory on the board. That’s certainly not guaranteed when you consider they’ve lost four of the last five home H2Hs (W1) despite getting on the scoresheet in each game, and the fact that their only home win this season came via penalties after a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes against Stockport County in the first round of the Carabao Cup.
Such a rough start was widely expected for the hosts, but Middlesbrough propping up the table after six rounds is much more of a surprise. The would-be promotion hopefuls are now enduring their worst-ever winless start to a league season outside the top flight (D1, L5), a run which forms part of a rather depressing 11-game winless streak in Championship action including the play-offs last season (D3, L8).
Such a run brings with it a great deal of scrutiny of Michael Carrick’s position, one which could become untenable – at least in the eyes of a section of supporters – should they lose here. The Teessiders can draw confidence from a couple of away wins in Carabao Cup action this season, if not from the persistent positivity coming from Carrick, who said “the performances haven’t been that bad” in the wake of their latest defeat.
Players to watch: It is difficult to predict who will score the next goal for Wednesday, especially seeing as the league’s joint-worst attack (G4) haven’t scored in 194 minutes of regulation time since Barry Bannan’s last goal. Also sitting on a meagre four league goals scored, Middlesbrough will hope that Marcus Forss can build on his pair of goal contributions (G1, A1) to inspire some sort of revival.
Hot stat: Middlesbrough are the only Championship side to have a negative goal difference in every single 15’ interval.