Middlesbrough are ready for Birmingham City with belief in acquiring all three points. Will they? Read our preview!
- Middlesbrough have the most matches under the total-line (11) in Championship
- Birmingham City have won significantly less corners away then at home.
Both teams should be fairly well rested for this game, as they have had some quiet days to prepare. Hopefully this will translate into lots of action on the pitch.
Middlesbrough form and stats
Middlesbrough have played 7 Championship games at their own stadium so far this season, resulting in 4-1-2 (wins-draws-losses). Nine out of nine points from the last three home games for Middlesbrough, and the home supporters are ready to scream their lungs out to keep the winning streak alive.
Defensively the home team are doing well, with their goalkeeper Joe Lumley not having conceded a league goal in 270 minutes.
A good away victory last time out for Middlesbrough, who won 2-0 against Cardiff City (placed 21st). Andraž Šporar, a natural forward, was the declared top player for the team in that fixture, and was presented with a rating of 8.3 (out of 10). Šporar scored one goal, served one assist and hit three key passes.
Before that game, the 2-0 home victory against Barnsley.The bookmakers consider this a fairly even contest. One could say only the home advantage separates the teams. It could be relevant to look at how Middlesbrough have performed in matches similar to this (as small favourites). Our database has found 13 matches with the results: Won four, drawn five and lost four.
There will be little rest for Middlesbrough after this match as they are travelling to Luton Town for a Championship game in only three days.
Middlesbrough have proved capable of finding the net in their games here at Riverside Stadium with 12 goals in 7 league matches. 7 goals have been conceded.
Birmingham City form and stats
As the visiting team in Championship matches, Birmingham City have produced an overall stat of 2-2-3 so far.
Birmingham City go into this game after a win, the home game against Swansea City that ended 2-1. World class coaching! That was the thoughts of manager L. Bowyer when Riley McGree scored the winning goal after coming on as a substitute in the 63rd minute. Troy Deeney, attacking player, was the top performer on the team in that game, scoring a match rating of 7.74. Deeney scored one goal, hit one key pass and dribled past the opponent 1 of 1 times.
A 0-0 draw at Huddersfield Town's stadium before that.As mentioned above, this is an open game with no clear favourite. We have found twelve similar matches played by Birmingham City in our archives, and the results are: four wins for Birmingham City, eight draws and zero defeats.
A quick return to home after this game, as Birmingham City are hosting Bristol City in the Championship only three days away.
Birmingham City are scoring more than one goal per away game on average, having accumulated 7 away goals from 7 games (in the league). As opposed to that, Birmingham have seen the ball go into their own net 7 times on the road.
Head 2 Head
Head-to-head totals (for the prior ten meetings): Middlesbrough won five games, three matches ended in a draw and Birmingham City have two wins. Over 2,5 goals / under 2,5 goals: four / sixMiddlesbrough missing players
Birmingham City missing players
| Middlesbrough | Birmingham City | ||||||
| Total | Home | vs | Statistics | Stat | vs | Away | Total |
| 14 | 7 | 3 | Played | P | 4 | 7 | 14 |
| 6 | 4 | 3 | Won | W | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | Drew | D | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 5 | 2 | 0 | Lost | L | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 17 | 12 | 6 | Scored | S | 5 | 7 | 12 |
| 13 | 7 | 0 | Conceded | C | 3 | 7 | 17 |
| 93% | 100% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 75% | 86% | 79% |
| 86% | 100% | 100% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 50% | 57% | 64% |
| 21% | 43% | 0% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 25% | 29% | 36% |
| 7% | 14% | 0% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 25% | 14% | 14% |
| 7% | 14% | 0% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 25% | 14% | 14% |
| 36% | 57% | 0% | BTTS | BTTS | 0% | 14% | 21% |
| 43% | 43% | 100% | Clean Sheets | C S | 50% | 43% | 43% |
| 29% | 0% | 0% | Failed to Score | F T | 75% | 57% | 57% |
| 5.6 | 5.9 | 5.3 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 3.2 | 3.1 | 4.4 |
| 4.1 | 3.9 | 4.7 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 4 | 4.3 | 4.7 |
| 2.5 | 1.9 | 2.3 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 0.8 | 2.1 | 1.8 |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 13 | 13.7 | 16.3 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 11.8 | 12 | 12.3 |
| 4.4 | 4.9 | 5.3 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 3.8 | 3.4 | 3.6 |
| 28% | 35% | 38% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 33% | 29% | 24% |
- All of Middlesbrough's home-matches have had more than 1,5 goals.
- Birmingham City have won significantly less corners away then at home.
- Middlesbrough have played more matches over 2,5 goals home than away.
- Middlesbrough have scored in all their home matches so far.
- Middlesbrough have the most matches under the total-line (11) in Championship
- Middlesbrough haven’t played a single 0-0 game at home.
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | AFC Bournemouth | 14 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 24 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 16 | 34 |
| 2 | West Bromwich Albion | 14 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 25 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 14 | 28 |
| 3 | Fulham | 13 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 29 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 9 | 15 | 26 |
| 4 | Coventry City | 14 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 20 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 3 | 24 |
| 5 | Luton Town | 14 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 23 | 18 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 10 | 5 | 21 |
| 6 | Middlesbrough | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 17 | 13 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 21 |
| 7 | Queens Park Rangers | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 25 | 22 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 15 | 3 | 21 |
| 8 | Huddersfield Town | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 18 | 17 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 21 |
| 9 | Stoke City | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 17 | 16 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 1 | 21 |
| 10 | Millwall | 14 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 15 | 15 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| 11 | Blackpool | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 17 | 18 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 11 | -1 | 21 |
| 12 | Blackburn Rovers | 14 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 23 | 17 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 20 |
| 13 | Reading | 14 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 20 | 24 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 13 | -4 | 19 |
| 14 | Nottingham Forest | 13 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 18 | 16 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 17 |
| 15 | Swansea City | 14 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 17 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 13 | -2 | 17 |
| 16 | Bristol City | 14 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 15 | 20 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 12 | -5 | 16 |
| 17 | Birmingham City | 14 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 17 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 7 | -5 | 16 |
| 18 | Sheffield United | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 17 | 19 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 9 | -2 | 15 |
| 19 | Preston North End | 14 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 14 | 18 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 10 | -4 | 15 |
| 20 | Peterborough United | 14 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 16 | 27 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 19 | -11 | 14 |
| 21 | Cardiff City | 14 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 12 | 26 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 14 | -14 | 11 |
| 22 | Hull City | 14 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 20 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 10 | -11 | 9 |
| 23 | Barnsley | 13 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 17 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 11 | -10 | 8 |
| 24 | Derby County | 14 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | -1 | 5 |
- Middlesbrough FC
- Teesside Live - (local newspaper)
- The Northern Echo - (local newspaper)
- Birmingham City
- Birmingham Mail - (local newspaper)