Middlesbrough – Wolves Prediction & Picks (30.03.2018)

Middlesbrough and Wolverhampton Wanderers face each other at Riverside Stadium, in a match for the 39th round of the Championship. Wolverhampton Wanderers won at home (1-0) when they last met in this edition of the league, on 08-05-2017. In this stadium, the history of direct confrontations is favorable to the home team, which records 3 wins in the last 3 matches. In fact, the last time these two teams played a match in this stadium was on 04-03-2016, in a match for the Championship which ended with Middlesbrough’s victory by (2-1). The goals of the match were scored by G. Ramírez (24 ‘and 56’), for Middlesbrough, and B. Gibson (89 ‘Autogolo), for Wolverhampton Wanderers. In this game the home factor may be decisive, since Wolverhampton Wanderers presents considerable differences in their results at home and as a visitor.

Middlesbrough:

After 18 wins, 8 draws and 12 losses, the home team is currently in the 6 th position, with 62 points won. In the penultimate match, they won in a home match against Barnsley, by (3-1). In the last match, they tied in an away match against Brentford, by (1-1). This is a team that usually maintains its competitive levels in home and away matches, since in the last 30 matches they register 6 wins, 3 draws and 6 losses in away matches, with 24 goals scored and 21 conceded; against 9 wins, 1 draw and 5 losses at their stadium, with 20 goals scored and 10 conceded. In the last 10 home league matches Middlesbrough has a record of 6 wins, 1 draw and 3 losses, so they have won 19 points out of 30 possible. They have not been very strong defensively, since they have suffered goals in 7 of the last 10 matches, but their offense has scored frequently, since they have scored goals in 7 of the last 10 matches for this competition. In their home matches for this competition there is a tendency for few goals, since 12 of the last 19 matches have ended with Under 2,5 goals. In 38 matches in this competition, they only got 2 comebacks in the 18 games in which they suffered the first goal.

Middlesbrough is making a remarkable recovery in the qualifying table and at this moment occupies a place in the play-offs of promotion to the English first division. However, it is important to note that in the last game he drew 1-1 against Brentford. In this game against the leader, coach Tony Pulis must keep the team in 4-2-3-1, being the most advanced position occupied by Bamford. Of note that forward Britt Assombalonga is the best score of Middlesbrough, with 12 goals scored in this competition. For this game the local coach can use all his players.

Wolverhampton Wanderers:

The away team is currently in the 1 st position of the league, with 82 points won, after 25 wins, 7 draws and 6 losses. In the penultimate match, they won in a home match against Reading, by (3-0). In the last match, they won in a home match against Burton Albion, by (3-1). This is a team that usually makes good use of the home advantage, stronger with the help of its supporters, since in the last 30 matches they register 7 wins, 4 draws and 4 losses in away matches, with 18 goals scored and 14 conceded; against 11 wins, 3 draws and 1 loss at their stadium, with 33 goals scored and 10 suffered. For the league, Wolverhampton Wanderers won 18 points out of 30 possible points, after 5 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses in the last 10 home matches. Their attack has scored regularly, since they have scored goals in 9 of the last 10 matches for this competition. In 38 matches in this competition, they only got 1 comeback in the 9 matches they suffered the first goal.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are very well positioned to win the title of the English second division and now have six points more than the second, Cardiff. It is important to underline that in the last game the visitors beat Burton Albion, 3-1: the goals were scored by Afobe (2) and Hélder Costa. In this away game, coach Nuno Espírito Santo must play in the usual 3-4-3, privileging possession of ball and positional attacks. The prodigy Diogo Jota is the best finalist of Wolverhampton, with 13 goals scored. The maintenance of possession of the ball is a very strong point of the visiting team. For this game the coach can count on all his players.