Prediction and odds for the game: Tottenham (1/4) v Middlesbrough (10/1)
We are backing Tottenham to win
When: Tuesday 14th January 2020, kick-off 8.05 PM
Where: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
On Tuesday night, Tottenham will attempt to see off Championship Middlesbrough at the second time of asking in the FA Cup third round.
Tottenham
The 1-1 draw in the first game at the Riverside Stadium is part a four-game winless run for Tottenham in all competitions. It seems the honeymoon period is over for Spurs head coach Jose Mourinho, as his team have won just once in six outings. Last time out the team from north London suffered a 1-0 home defeat against Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Their recent record in this competition has also been patchy of late, as Spurs have won just one of their last four games in the competition. The north London team’s games in the competition have at least been relatively high-scoring, with over 2.5 goals scored in five of their last seven games in the FA Cup.
Tottenham have been strong on home soil in the FA Cup of late though, winning their last six home games, while scoring at least twice in all six home wins.
Middlesbrough
The visitors from Teesside head into this game on the back of a six-game unbeaten run in all competitions, consisting of four wins and two draws. A 2-2 home draw with Derby County last time out also means that Boro have scored at least two goals in three of their last four games.
The recent good run of form has kept boss Jonathan Woodgate in his job, as the former Boro defender looked to be teetering on the edge of losing his job a few weeks ago.
The team from the north east has a poor recent record in the FA Cup, as they have won just one of their last five outings in the competition, having failed to win in their previous three games in the famous old cup competition.
Middlesbrough have played just one away game in the FA Cup since 2015, losing 2-0 at Newport in a fourth round replay last season. The defeat means that Boro have won just two of their last eight games on their travels in the FA Cup. Their recent away matches have been low-scoring, with under 2.5 goals scored in their last five away games.
Conclusion
Like most teams in FA Cup third round replays, Tottenham and Middlesbrough’s priorities lay elsewhere this season. Spurs could do with a trophy though after some barren years.
Spurs head coach Jose Mourinho is likely to rotate his squad. However, we are backing the team from north London to pull off a victory. We are also taking a punt on the under 2.5 goals scored, as Spurs have struggled to score goals of late and Boro’s recent outings have mostly been low-scoring affairs.
Verdict: We are backing the home win at odds of 1/ 4 and or the under 2.5 goals scored at odds of 6/5. (All odds are taken from Bet365).
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