Championship preview and odds: Middlesbrough vs Burnley

Published on: 14/12/2015

Championship preview and odds: Middlesbrough vs Burnley

December 15, 2015 19:45pm - Riverside Stadium

Championship

Automatic promotion candidates Middlesbrough will be looking to maintain their position in the top two when they go head-to-head with fellow promotion hopefuls Burnley on Tuesday night.

Boro unbeaten in four

Middlesbrough currently have a two-point edge over their rivals in the hunt for automatic promotion to the Premier League. After a run of four games without a loss and six wins in their last eight, the northeast side will now be looking to defend their top-two berth when fifth-ranked Burnley visit the Riverside stadium on Tuesday.

They come into this game on the back of a disappointing 0-0 draw at home to Birmingham City in which forward David Nugent was dismissed for misconduct. They now have a chance to bounce back with another game on home soil.

Burnley still in promotion hunt

Burnleys quest for an instant return to the Premier League has been hindered slightly in recent weeks by a run of five games without a win. However, thanks to four draws in that spell, Sean Dyches men have clung onto their top-five status and are still in the play-off hunt.

In their last game, they played out a goalless draw away to Queens Park Rangers. Prior to that, they suffered their only defeat in the last 11 matches when they fell at home to Preston North End.

Team news

Middlesbrough will continue without the defensive pair of Rhys Williams and Alex Baptiste on Tuesday, while David Nugent will be suspended after seeing red last week.

Meanwhile, Burnley will be without Ashley Barnes who faces up to three months on the side-lines with a knee injury.

Recent form (League)

Middlesbrough: DWWWL

Burnley: DLDDD

Betting odds and tips

Middlesbrough are unbeaten in eight games at home and Burnley are unbeaten in eight games away from home. The draw can be backed at 5/2 with Bet365.

By Neil Morris

Published on: 14/12/2015

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (14/12/2015 15:01:09) but are subject to change.