Middlesbrough VS Sunderland Match Prediction

  • Logo2017-04-26
  • Logo18:45:00
Middlesbrough
VS
Sunderland

Our Prediction Tip

Draw will win this match.

These sides have faced it other 143 times.  In that time, Sunderland have lead the way with 61 wins to Boro's 45.  They have also drawn 37 times as well.  Here's how the last five results went for them:

Aug 21, 2016: Sunderland 1-2 Middlesbrough
Oct 30, 2012: Sunderland 0-1 Middlesbrough (EFL Cup)
Feb 8, 2012: Middlesbrough 1-2 Sunderland (FA Cup)
Jan 29, 2012: Sunderland 1-1 Middlesbrough (FA Cup)
Jan 10, 2009: Middlesbrough 1-1 Sunderland

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Middlesbrough vs Sunderland Prediction

In a very fitting end to both sides hopes, they will play out a thoroughly entertaining draw.

Correct Score Prediction: Middlesbrough 2-2 Sunderland

Middlesbrough vs Sunderland Betting Tips and Odds

Bet365 have the following odds available for this match:

Middlesbrough are at 11/10 to win, a draw is at 9/4, and a Sunderland win is at 5/2.

Both teams to score is at 4/5 for yes and 19/20 for no.

A 1-0 win for Boro at the final whistle could get you 12/1 odds if correct.

Reason: The bookmakers have Middlesbrough as favorites here, but it's only down to the sheer incompetence of the bottom side Sunderland that they are favored.  Against any other side right now, Boro would be clear underdogs, but they will have hopes of three points here.

Team News

Caretaker boss Steve Agnew has no fresh injuries to account for but will be without attacking midfielder Gaston Ramirez after his very foolish double yellow card that turned into red on Saturday.  The move cost them any hope of winning that match, and it will leave them in a real must-win.  Regular left back Fabio will most likely regain his place after being injured against Arsenal.

Key Man

It's time to take precaution and throw it out the window here for Middlesbrough.  They need someone to step up in a big way, and that man needs to be Alvaro Negredo.  The Spanish striker has done alright at times for his new side, but he has largely been starved of service and the lack of quality has shown through his side.  He still, though, has scored eight times so far and also provided four assists. So there is some hope there for them. His last goal came against Arsenal and it looked to have been a big goal before they were once again pegged back.  He needs to have a big game if they are to stave off almost certain relegation.

Team Form

Middlesbrough have three losses and two draws in their last five matches.  They drew 0-0 at Swansea first to dent their hopes of survival before losing 4-2 away to Hull.  A 0-0 draw at home to Burnley deepened the wound, and then they lost 1-2 at home to Arsenal and then 4-0 away to Bournemouth to leave them right on the brink of relegation.

Expected Line-up: 4-4-2

Middlesbrough likely XI

  • Goalkeeper:Guzan

  • Defenders:Barragan, Ayala, Gibson, Fabio

  • Midfielders:Downing, Clayton, De Roon, Traore

  • Forwards:Gestede, Negredo

Team News

David Moyes will be unable to call upon the injured quartet of center back Paddy McNair, defensive midfielder Jan Kirchoff, right winger Duncan Watmore, and left back Bryan Oviedo due to injuries.  Center midfielder Seb Larsson continues to be unavailable as he is still serving a suspension for a red card.  Billy Jones picked up an injury late on on Saturday, so his status at right back is unknown at this time.

Key Man

All of the magic of Jermain Defoe has seemingly been wasted this season by the Black Cats as they've just not been able to build off of the aging striker's goals.  The 34 year old has been exceptional for them, so much so that England recalled him, and he will once again need to find something to help push them closer toward safety here.  The 14 goals he's scored has him above everyone else by more than ten, showing that they have little threat from elsewhere.  He will probably need to add at least a couple if they have aspirations of winning this away match.

Team Form

Sunderland also have two draws and three losses in their last five matches.  A 0-0 result at home to poor away side Burnley hurt them badly to end March.  They then had successive away losses to Watford (1-0) and Leicester City (2-0) before losing at home to Manchester United by a score of 0-3.  They pulled out a 2-2 draw on Saturday against West Ham at home, but it doesn't look like quite enough to have helped them very much.

Expected Line-up: 4-3-3

Sunderland likely XI

  • Goalkeeper:Pickford

  • Defenders:Kone, O'Shea, Denayer, Manquillo

  • Midfielders:Gibson, Cattermole, Ndong

  • Forwards:Khazri, Anichebe, Defoe

This is what it all comes down to. The last stand for both Middlesbrough and Sunderland is right here and now. Sunderland have six matches left to play, including this one, while Boro have five. Sunderland will need nearly a flawless run. If they were to somehow do that, they would have 39 points. Anything less will see them go down. The same scenario is there for Middlesbrough as well. They will need to achieve 39, you would think, in order to cast someone down. The only way for either side to conceivably stay up is to win all of their matches, meaning that this is a must-win for both.
Sunderland have scored just ten times in away matches this season, which is a tie for second place (amongst three others). Middlesbrough have been anemic at home, having managed to score just 13 home goals all season. This has them bottom of the league by three to Sunderland and four to Southampton, but no one else is all that close. Goals will be at an absolute premium here in this very important match.