Preview
Middlesbrough vs West Brom Betting Tips
Tuesday, 31/1/2017
Riverside Stadium
Bet on West Brom to score first at 13/10 odds
Middlesbrough would be hoping for a far better outcome after their 3-1 defeat to West Ham at home last week, when they entertain West Brom on Tuesday night. The score-line suggests absolute domination from West Ham throughout the game but actually, Middlesbrough were the ones who enjoyed long spells of possession. They couldn’t make much out of their 60%+ possession and 27 crosses into the opposition box. The visitors took the lead in the ninth minute when Andy Carroll pounded a bullet header into the net from a Manuel Lanzini corner. Boro were quick to react and pulled themselves level as Christian Stuani scored from Callum Chambers’ cross. Adama Traore threatened to steal the lead for the hosts a couple of times but it was West Ham once again, who took the lead. Andy Carroll scored in the brink of half time to make it 2-1 for the Hammers. Middlesbrough dominated the entire second half but failed to find their way back into the game. On the contrary, Jonathan Calleri scored in the injury time to rub salt into Middlesbrough’s wounds.
West Brom registered a much needed win against Sunderland last week to lift up their morale after being on the receiving end of a 4-0 thrashing at White Hart Lane. Darren Fletcher volleyed the ball past Vito Mannone to open the scoring for the Baggies. Chris Brunt thundered in another volley six minutes later to make the score 2-0. The home-side couldn’t find any more goals throughout the game but were seldom threatened by their opposition.
PREDICTION
Scoring goals has been the primary problem for Middlesbrough. Having scored the least number of goals in the league, their frontline has often been the culprits in their recent failures. Aitor Karanka’s men have won only once in their last eight matches and on Tuesday they face a West Brom side who have conceded more than twice away from home only two times in a year. A low scoring/goalless draw could be the most probable outcome of this match.
Bet on West Brom to score first at 13/10 odds
RECENT FORM
- Middlesbrough(16th in the Premier League, last 5 matches in all competitions)
1-3(Home, West Ham)0-0(Away, Watford)3-0(FA Cup, Home, Sheffield Wednesday)0-0(Home, Leicester)1-2(Away, Manchester United)
- West Bromwich Albion(8th in the Premier League, last 5 matches in all competitions)
2-0(Home, Sunderland)0-4(Away, Tottenham)1-2(FA Cup, Home, Derby County)3-1(Home, Hull)2-1(Away, Southampton)
HEAD TO HEAD
Total Played | Middlesbrough wins | West Brom wins | Draws |
92 | 38 | 33 | 21 |
LAST MEETING
28 August, 2016
The Hawthorns
Premier League
West Brom 0-Middlesbrough 0
INTERESTING FACTS
- Middlesbrough have failed to score in each of their last five league meetings with West Brom, losing four (D1).
- West Brom are unbeaten in their last four trips to Middlesbrough (W2 D2), after a run of 18 games (all comps) without a win.
- Chris Brunt has been directly involved in three goals in his three league appearances against Middlesbrough for the Baggies (two goals, one assist).
- Brunt has been involved in six goals his last nine Premier League appearances since the start of December (three goals, three assists).
- Middlesbrough are the only Premier League side yet to see a substitute involved in a goal this season, this despite 53 subs being used.
- It’s over a year since a West Bromwich Albion substitute scored a goal in the Premier League – January 13, 2016 (Craig Gardner v Chelsea).
- None of the last 32 Premier League goals scored by WBA have been scored by an English player. The last English goal for the club in the competition was by Craig Dawson on April 25, 2016.
- Just 23.9% of Middlesbrough’s passes this season have been in the final third of the pitch; a league-low proportion.
- The Baggies have conceded a higher proportion of their goals in the final 15 minutes of Premier League games this season than any other side (36%).
- West Bromwich Albion – who won 2-0 against Sunderland in their last game – haven’t kept back to back Premier League clean sheets since October 2015.
Bet on West Brom to score first at 13/10 odds