Middlesbrough vs Norwich Prediction & Betting Tips - Championship

Prediction published on 06/03/2024, 08:30  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 06/03/2024 at 08:52 in Championship Predictions

Norwich City’s quest for a top six finish continues on Wednesday with a trip to Middlesbrough in the Championship. The two sides have had contrasting fortunes; Middlesbrough are 14th while Norwich are seven places above. Middlesbrough are victims of the high standards they set last season as Michael Carrick got them into the promotion playoffs. After 34 matches this term, they are on 44 points, 12 below the top six. It has been tough for them coming into this game, managing just one win in their last eight matches. Middlesbrough’s last outing ended in a 2-0 defeat away to Stoke City. They have now lost four of their last five Championship matches, and come without a clean sheet in five. Carrick’s side has conceded twice in each of their four losses in the last five games. That is a reflection of how poor they’ve been defensively in the Championship, conceding 51 goals in 34 matches. While they’ve failed to score in the last two matches, Middlesbrough will be happy with their consistency in attack. They’ve scored in eight of their last 10 matches. Both teams scored in three of their last four home matches.

Norwich City are in much better shape coming into this game and are in the top six frame. Only one point separates them from the sixth placed side, Norwich having managed 55 points thus far. The most recent three of those points were banked in their 1-0 win over Sunderland ahead of this match. That also happens to be their first clean sheet in the last eight matches. They have two clean sheets in 10 and failed to score just once in that period. In beating Sunderland, Josh Sargent scored his seventh goal in nine matches, and will be a key man to watch here. With both sides having scored in seven of Norwich’s last 10 matches, defence seems an area they’ll want to work on. Another area to work on will be their away form, coming here winless in the last four. Norwich have two draws and two losses in their last four away matches. They haven't managed a clean sheet in 18 away matches in all competitions but failed to score in just three of 20. The Canaries will hope to avoid a fourth straight defeat to Middlesbrough here. In the reverse fixture, they fell 2-1 at home.