Swansea vs Middlesbrough prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-03-10 15:00.
Swansea will likely be without boss Russell Martin here following his red card in a touchline fracas during their 1-0 defeat against Luton last time out, which is perhaps not ideal as they look to end a four-game winless run. Their latest defeat won’t do Martin any favours as pressure slowly builds on him following a run of just three wins across Swansea’s last 19 league games (W3, D7, L9).
Starting the round in 17th, it’s hard to see a change in fortunes back in front of their home fans given Swansea have managed just two wins across their last eight league games here (W2, D2, L4). That’s a pretty rotten return when you consider Swansea managed to take the lead before half-time in each of their last four home league games here, with only one leading to a victory.
In contrast to their hosts, Middlesbrough have picked up more points than all but Premier League-bound Burnley since the appointment of head coach Michael Carrick (W14, D1, L4). Typifying the improvement was the five-star display from the visitors last weekend as they recorded their largest-ever win in an EFL Championship game, demolishing Reading 5-0 to keep up the momentum in their automatic promotion push.
Carrick’s man-management simply cannot be overstated, a trait which is best showcased by the resurgence of Chuba Akpom. The revived forward was transfer listed and made to train with the under-21s by former boss Chris Wilder, but his relationship with the fans has gone “from zero to 100” in his own words after becoming Boro’s first 20+ goal forward in a league season (G21) since 1989/90, thanks to his double against Reading.
Players to watch: Swansea’s top league scorer Joël Piroe (G12) has enjoyed facing Middlesbrough, contributing to goals in two of his three personal H2Hs (G1, A1), while swashbuckling full-back Ryan Giles could become the first Boro player to hit 10+ assists in a league season since Adama Traoré in 2017/18 with one more here!
Hot stat: Middlesbrough have lost a joint league-high three away league games when scoring first this season (W4, L3).