Middlesbrough vs Sunderland - Premier League preview and odds

Published on: 26/04/2017

Middlesbrough vs Sunderland - Premier League preview and odds

April 26, 2017 19:45pm - Riverside Stadium

Premier League

Middlesbrough will look to break a 16-game winless streak when they take on bottom-of-the-table Sunderland at the Riverside Stadium on Wednesday night. The visitors themselves are without a win in their last eight Premier League matches.

Relegation strugglers go head-to-head with little but pride at stake

Middlesbrough face the seemingly impossible task of overhauling a nine point deficit to salvage their Premier League status for another season. However, Boro are without a win in 16 matches and have picked up just two points in their last eight games.

On home soil, Steve Agnew`s men have drawn four and lost three of their last seven, and come into this game on the back of a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of AFC Bournemouth last weekend. Their last home win came against Swansea City way back in December.

Meanwhile, Sunderland are even an even worse predicament, with 12 points separating them from safety. David Moyes` men have won just one of their last 16 matches and have scored just two goals in their last eight matches. However, both of those goals came last time out when they drew 2-2 at home to West Ham United.

The Black Cats main aim now will be to avoid the indignity of finishing bottom of the table. However, they will remain bottom even if they win tonight (with a six goal margin or less) thanks to their inferior goal difference.

Team news

The home side will have to cope without Gaston Ramirez (suspended) and Marten de Roon (ankle), while Grant Leadbitter (tight hamstring) and Victor Valdes (rib) are both doubtful.

Meanwhile, Sebastian Larsson (suspended), Bryan Oviedo, Jan Kirchhoff (cartilage), Duncan Watmore (ACL) and Paddy McNair (knee) are all out of action for Moyes men, while Billy Jones has concussion and remains a doubt.

Recent form (League)

Middlesbrough: LLDLD

Sunderland: DLLLD

Betting odds and tips

Middlesbrough have failed to win any of their last 16 matches including their last seven on home soil.

Sunderland have failed to win in their last eight matches and have conceded at least one goal in all but one of their away matches.

It is hard to make a case for either side, so the draw looks like the choice bet.

You can back the draw at 12/5 with Bet365.

By Neil Morris

Published on: 26/04/2017

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (26/04/2017 15:05:03) but are subject to change.