Middlesbrough vs Tottenham Prediction & Betting Tips - FA Cup

Prediction published on 02/01/2020, 17:40  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 02/01/2020 at 18:41 in FA Cup Predictions

A lot can happen in a few weeks and that has certainly been the case for both these clubs. Middlesbrough have climbed up the Championship table to 16th place, while Tottenham are sixth after the arrival of Jose Mourinho. Middlesbrough made a poor start to their season under new manager Jonathan Woodgate. They were in the relegation zone and there had been talk that Woodgate may lose his job. Those calls are a bit fainter now after a run of one defeat in seven games and four wins in a row leading into this game. Boro are now ten points above the bottom three and only eight adrift of the final promotion play-off position. A form guide for the last ten league games has them second behind Leeds United. Middlesbrough are unbeaten in their last six home games but there haven't been too many goals. There have been under 2.5 goals scored in six of their last eight home matches and their fans thought those days were over when Tony Pulis left.

Tottenham began the year with an away defeat at Southampton. That left them six points adrift of the final Champions League place and that's just one win in their last four matches. Even worse, Harry Kane sustained an injury and isn't likely to be playing in this cup tie. Tottenham will of course leave out several players for this game as clubs do in this competition. They have already been knocked out by Colchester United in the EFL Cup this season and could well struggle here with Boro in improved form. This isn't easy to predict but a bet on under 2.5 goals could well be a winner.