Prediction and odds for the game: Middlesbrough (11/10) vs Coventry City (11/4)

We are backing the home win

When: Saturday 29 January 2022, Kick-off 15:00

Where: The Riverside Stadium

On Saturday afternoon, Middlesbrough and Coventry City meet at the Riverside Stadium, in a game that could be massive in both teams’ play-off hopes in the Championship.

Middlesbrough

The north east team are well-positioned to mount a challenge for one of the play-off spots. However, a 1-0 defeat at another promotion-chasing team Blackburn last time out has left Boro two points outside the league’s top-six. They do have a game in hand on sixth-place Huddersfield, so all is not yet lost for Chris Wilder’s team.

The defeat against Rovers ended a seven-game unbeaten run for Middlesbrough in the Championship. It also ended a four-game winning run in the second tier for the home side.

Boro have been strong on home soil of late in the Championship, as they have recorded four straight victories at the Riverside Stadium. They have also conceded just one goal in their last four league outings on home soil.

Coventry City

Like their hosts, the Sky Blues are competing for a play-off spot in the Championship. The team from the Midlands are just two points behind Boro in the table. Mark Robins team are four points off the top-six but have two games in hand on sixth-place Huddersfield.

A recent inconsistent run of league form has rather hindered the visitor’s hopes of claiming one of those play-off spots. A 1-0 home win over Stoke City last time out was just their second league win in nine outings.

Another positive was that the Sky Blues kept their first clean sheet in seven Championship matches. They will be hoping to keep it tight once again at the back in the north east.

City have been difficult to beat of late on their travels in the English second tier. In fact, the visitors are unbeaten in their last five away matches in the Championship. On the flip-side though, Coventry have won just two of their last ten away matches in the English second tier. Their recent away games in the Championship have been relatively high-scoring, with over 2.5 goals scored in five of their last eight away matches in the second tier.

Conclusion

This could be a pivotal match for both sides in the race for a top-six spot this season. Both are tantalisingly close to the play-off spots. Both cannot boost their play-off hopes in this game, though. We are backing Middlesbrough to record a narrow win.

The other bet we recommend is to back under 2.5 goals, as it could be a relatively tight encounter. Boro have not conceded many goals on home soil of late, so that will be a factor in the potential low-scoring game too.

Our Tips: We are backing the home win at odds of 11/10 and under 2.5 goals scored at odds of 8/11. (All odds are taken from Bet365).

[geosnippet id=3620]

If you are looking for a bookmaker for your bet on Middlesbrough vs Coventry then don’t forget to check out our betting page for the bookmakers we recommend for your bet. If you are looking for more previews and tips, then our soccer predictions page could be of interest to you.

Which team will boost their play-off chances at the Riverside Stadium?