Getting closer to the top teams is at stake when these two mid-table clubs battle it out. Both will be aiming to improve their league table standing, Aston Villa U23 in 6th and Middlesbrough U23 in 5th place.
This should be an interesting game with lots of spark and energy as both teams are well rested since they last saw competitive action. Game on!
Aston Villa U23 form and stats
3 victories, 1 draw and 0 defeats. That’s what Aston Villa U23 have to build on here in the Premier League 2 Divison Two. Aston Villa U23 are on a three game winning streak in their home games.
Aston Villa U23's previous game was a Premier League Cup match also played at home, ending 6-0 versus Portsmouth U23. The home side are looking to build on that result. Prior to that was the away defeat visiting West Ham United U23 (0-4).
As mentioned above, Aston Villa U23 "killed" Portsmouth U23 in their previous game. They need to reset completely for this one and beware of complacency.
With an average of more than two goals per home game in the league (9 in 4 games), Aston Villa U23's attacking play is working. On the other hand, Aston Villa U23 have conceded 4 goals.
Middlesbrough U23 form and stats
Playing away, Middlesbrough U23 have won 2 games, drawn 2 and suffered 1 defeat in the Premier League 2 Divison Two this season.
Two travels in a row for Middlesbrough U23, whose manager G. Lee could celebrate last time after the Premier League Cup win against Crystal Palace U23. Prior to that match, the Middlesbrough U23 manager G. Lee faced defeat when travelling to West Bromwich Albion U23 and losing 1-4.
As mentioned above, Middlesbrough U23 was the only team on the pitch versus Crystal Palace U23 in their previous game, winning 5-1. This could be a tougher task. Middlesbrough U23 delivered their win in the match against Crystal Palace U23 already in the first half, and could slow the play down in the final 45 minutes to ensure the three points. Solid performance!
With an average of more than two away goals per league game away, Middlesbrough U23 are regular goalscorers on their travels. For Middlesbrough U23, more than two goals on average per game end up in their own net.
Head 2 Head
The last H2H meeting was Middlesbrough U23 - Aston Villa U23 1-0, played this season. Head-to-head totals (for the last five meetings): Aston Villa U23 won 2 games, 1 match ended with a draw and Middlesbrough U23 has 2 wins. Over 2,5 goals / under 2,5 goals: 3 / 2Aston Villa U23 missing players
Middlesbrough U23 missing players
| Aston Villa U23 | Middlesbrough U23 | ||||||
| Total | Home | vs | Statistics | Stat | vs | Away | Total |
| 10 | 4 | 1 | Played | P | 1 | 5 | 11 |
| 4 | 3 | 1 | Won | W | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | Drew | D | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | Lost | L | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 15 | 9 | 1 | Scored | S | 4 | 12 | 22 |
| 16 | 4 | 0 | Conceded | C | 2 | 12 | 25 |
| 100% | 100% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| 80% | 75% | 0% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 100% | 100% | 91% |
| 50% | 50% | 0% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 100% | 100% | 82% |
| 40% | 50% | 0% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 100% | 100% | 73% |
| 30% | 50% | 0% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 100% | 60% | 55% |
| 60% | 75% | 0% | BTTS | BTTS | 100% | 100% | 82% |
| 10% | 25% | 100% | Clean Sheets | C S | 0% | 0% | 9% |
| 30% | 0% | 0% | Failed to Score | F T | 0% | 0% | 9% |
| 4.6 | 2.2 | 3 | Corners For (avg) | C F | 9 | 6.8 | 6.4 |
| 4.3 | 2.8 | 6 | Corners Against (avg) | C A | 5 | 4.4 | 5.1 |
| 1.7 | 1.5 | 1 | Yellow Cards (avg) | Y C | 1 | 1.6 | 1.2 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | Red Cards | R C | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 106 | 38 | 7 | Total Shots | T S | 12 | 65 | 139 |
| 41 | 15 | 1 | Shots on Target | S O | 8 | 25 | 52 |
| 37% | 60% | 100% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 50% | 48% | 42% |
- All of Middlesbrough U23's away-matches have had more than 3,5 goals.
- Aston Villa U23 have not yet lost a game at home.
- Aston Villa U23 have scored at least twice as many goals as they have conceded at home.
- Aston Villa U23 have scored in all their home matches so far.
- Aston Villa U23 have won significantly less corners at home than away.
- Aston Villa U23 haven’t played a single 0-0 game.
- Middlesbrough U23 has the most conceded goals in the second half (16)
- Middlesbrough U23 have failed to keep a clean sheet in all their away matches.
- Middlesbrough U23 have played more matches over 2,5 goals away than home.
- Middlesbrough U23 have scored in all their away matches so far.
- Middlesbrough U23 haven’t played a single 0-0 game.
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | West Ham United U23 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 9 | 25 | 31 |
| 2 | Manchester United U23 | 11 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 31 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 6 | 22 | 28 |
| 3 | West Bromwich Albion U23 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 24 | 16 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 19 |
| 4 | Stoke City U23 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 20 | 18 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 10 | 2 | 17 |
| 5 | Middlesbrough U23 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 22 | 25 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 12 | -3 | 17 |
| 6 | Aston Villa U23 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 12 | -1 | 15 |
| 7 | Reading U23 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 25 | 21 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 12 | 4 | 13 |
| 8 | Fulham U23 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 17 | 20 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 13 |
| 9 | Newcastle Utd U23 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 17 | 25 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 12 | -8 | 13 |
| 10 | Swansea City U23 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 13 | 24 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 11 | -11 | 11 |
| 11 | Norwich City U23 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 22 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | -10 | 8 |
| 12 | Sunderland U23 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 32 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 19 | -25 | 1 |