Birmingham City vs Middlesbrough Match Analysis & Prediction


02/01/2023 6:00 pm


Middlesbrough will make a trip to St Andrew’s Stadium to face Birmingham City on Monday will an opportunity to strengthen their spot in the Championship playoff places.
At a time when the hosts recently dropped to 16th place through two successive defeats, Boro are sixth in the standings.
With matches against Burnley and Middlesbrough over the Christmas and New Year period, Birmingham manager John Eustace would have recognised the importance of taking something from their home game with Hull City on Friday.
Instead, Birmingham fell to a 1-0 defeat to the Tigers, ensuring that the team have now failed to score in seven of their last eight halves of football.
Blues also boast just three victories from 11 matches, leading to the previous optimism regarding a promotion bid losing strength with every game that passes.
However, despite now finding themselves in 16th place, Eustace’s side remain just four points adrift of their next opponents, giving Birmingham City an opportunity to kick-start their campaign.
Although Michael Carrick has been in charge for just nine matches, Middlesbrough supporters are already dreaming of a return to the Premier League just two months after fearing relegation zone.
As a result of their comeback 2-1 victory at Blackburn Rovers on Thursday, Carrick has now delivered 19 points from nine matches, impressively moving the club into the playoff places.
Boro have scored in every match under Carrick, and the recent victory at Ewood Park came without having to rely on free-scoring Chuba Akpoum to contribute another goal.
However, Marcus Forss has enjoyed a welcome return to form over Christmas, chipping in with two goals and as assist, and Middlesbrough will prove to be a tough team to stop if the Finland international and Akpom maintain their exploits in the final third in the long term.
Birmingham City vs. Middlesbrough Head to head
These two teams have previously met on 91 occasions across all competitions, where Birmingham have claimed 32 victories while Middlesbrough have won 36, and they have drawn in 23. Middlesbrough have scored 127 goals and conceded 119 in the process.
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19/12/2020Birmingham City1Middlesbrough4Championship
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16/01/2021Middlesbrough0Birmingham City1Championship
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30/10/2021Middlesbrough0Birmingham City2Championship
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15/03/2022Birmingham City0Middlesbrough2Championship
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05/10/2022Middlesbrough1Birmingham City0Championship
Birmingham City Team News
Dion Sanderson is likely to miss out for Birmingham City after suffering a hamstring injury against Hull City on Friday.
With Scott Hogan unlikely toreturn for this game, Troy Deeney is expected to remain in attack alongside Tahith Chong, with Lukas Jutkiewicz only being named on the substitutes’ bench.
Birmingham City's Last 5 Matches
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11/11/2022Birmingham City1Sunderland2Championship
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10/12/2022Blackpool0Birmingham City0Championship
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16/12/2022Birmingham City3Reading2Championship
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27/12/2022Burnley3Birmingham City0Championship
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30/12/2022Birmingham City0Hull City1Championship
Middlesbrough Team News
Having impressed in an unfamiliar central-attacking role against Blackburn Rovers last time out, Matt Crooks should retain his place in the Middlesbrough side.
Barring any injury issues and having had an extra day of recovery, Carrick could insist on selecting the same starting lineup for his side.
Middlesbrough's Last 5 Matches
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26/11/2022Hibernian0Middlesbrough2Club Friendlies
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10/12/2022Middlesbrough2Luton Town1Championship
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17/12/2022Burnley3Middlesbrough1Championship
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26/12/2022Middlesbrough4Wigan Athletic1Championship
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29/12/2022Blackburn Rovers1Middlesbrough2Championship
Birmingham City vs. Middlesbrough: Odds and Predictions
Main Prediction
1X2: 2
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