On Saturday in the EFL Championship, promotion-seeking Burnley will play host to a high-flying Middlesbrough team at Turf Moor (December 17).
The Clarets are in first place in the standings with 44 points after 22 games as they work to get back into the Premier League right away. After finishing in 18th place last season and suffering through a terrible run in which they won just seven times in 38 games, the Lancashire team’s five-year run in the top division came to an end.
Sean Dyche, who’d been in charge of Burnley for ten years, was sacked in April, but that didn’t prevent Burnley from going down, but things are looking on the up under Vincent Kompany.
While Middlesbrough is currently 12th in the standings, their recent form has improved. In their last five games, they have gone undefeated while winning four of them.
Chris Wilder was fired at the beginning of October after the Boro managed just two victories in their first 11 games, leaving them in 22nd place. Michael Carrick, a former star for Manchester United, was appointed on October 24.
His tenure started off to a forgetful note, with Middlesbrough going down 2-1 to Preston North End. However, since then, the Yorkshire outfit have managed to stable their ship.
You know there have been 67 previous clashes between the two teams, and the spoils have been closely shared, with Burnley winning on 25 occasions to Middlesbrough’s 23.
While Middlesbrough last beat Burnley in December 2015; since then, the Clarets are unbeaten in four games, winning twice.
1×2 Betting Odds
When Burnley returned to action last week, they played as if they had never been away. They defeated QPR 3-0 to make it six victories in their last seven Championship games, but the league leaders face a potentially challenging opponent here.
Middlesbrough comes in with three straight victories after defeating Luton, but their five-game unbeaten streak will be threatened against the impressive home team.
Burnley must be the favourite to win if there is to be a winner as they have won their last five at home and have yet to suffer a loss at Turf Moor this season!
And the odds have been reflective of that.
Burnley are the favourites to win this with odds @ 2.12.
Middlesbrough are the underdogs in this with odds @ 3.7.
The chances of a draw according to the betting market stands @ 3.5.
Total goals over/under
The odds that the total number of goals score will be over 2.5, stands @ 1.98.
While the odds that the total number of goals will be under 2.5, stands @ 1.91.
