Competition: Championship
Market: A goal must be scored in both halves
Chances: 4/5 @1xBet
Middlesbrough will look to expand their buffer on the automatic promotion places on Saturday afternoon and welcome play-off dreamers QPR to the Riverside.
Starting with the hosts, while Rob Edwards may have finally finalized a messy divorce outside the Riverside last month, Middlesbrough have certainly shown no signs of a hangover. As we embark on what has become a real Championship fairytale this season, the mood around Tyneside remains at a glowing high and it is no secret that the Reds are widely regarded as a standout promotion contender this year. Boro have continued to receive a string of plaudits, most recently recording a 2-1 win at Charlton earlier this week. Boro opened Saturday’s matches with a four-point buffer in the automatic promotion spots. As they kick off December with a stellar display as they battle their way to an emphatic 4-1 draw against Hull, new boss Kim Hellberg will call on his team to set another milestone here. Ending November with a 2-1 win at home to Derby, Saturday’s hosts have won all their previous three consecutive Championships by an aggregate score of 8-3. It should also be stressed that Middlesbrough have suffered just one Championship defeat at the Riverside since April.
As for the visitors, who spent much of last season looking over their shoulders at a looming relegation problem, QPR have this time firmly cemented their place as one of the Championship’s ultimate surprise packages. Julien Stephan’s men last saw each other earlier this week when they recorded a sensational 2-1 victory at home against Birmingham. Now Julien Stephan’s men have suddenly set their sights on securing a famous play-off ticket in 2026. The Hoops start December with a thumping 3-1 win against West Brom and open Saturday’s matches with only their goal difference keeping them out of the play-off places. QPR marked their return from the November international break with an action-packed 3-2 win against Hull, winning four of their previous five Championship appearances. Despite being labeled as genuine underdog candidates when they travel to Tyneside this weekend, Stephan’s camp are more than capable of asking serious questions. Two sides that find the mood in their respective camps very high, we could be in for a fun match here.
Bet: Goal in both halves in Middlesbrough vs QPR 4/5 for Saturday’s Championship match @ 1xInset
#Bitesize #prediction #Middlesbrough #QPR #Football #News