MY ACCOUNT
– Middlesbrough have won ten of their last 13 matches at the Riverside
– Coventry failed to win away at any of the Championship’s top-10 this season
– Recommended bet: Middlesbrough to win & both teams to score
A cagey goalless draw in the first leg of this Championship play-off semi-final means the tie is finely poised ahead of Wednesday’s return game at the Riverside Stadium.
Chances were few and far between in Sunday’s first leg at the CBS Arena, which came as a surprise given the second tier’s two topscorers — Chuba Akpom and Viktor Gyokeres — were on show.
What opportunities there were, Boro had the better of them and given their excellent record at home under Michael Carrick, they look worthy favourites to advance to Wembley.
But Coventry have spent all season upsetting the odds and the Sky Blues certainly will pose a threat if they can get Gyokeres more involved.
Team news
Dael Fry and Marcus Forss made welcome returns to the Middlesbrough matchday squad following spells on the sidelines with Fry an unused substitute and Forss coming on for the final 20 minutes.
Aaron Ramsey and Jonny Howson travelled with Boro to Coventry but did not feature and Carrick is tight-lipped over their availability for Wednesday’s return game.
Gustavo Hamer is a doubt with the knock he received in the first leg while striker Tyler Walker has undergone a scan for an unspecified injury suffered in training.
Ben Sheaf was in the matchday squad at the weekend following a calf injury and could feature at Middlesbrough.
The stats
This will be the third time Middlesbrough and Coventry have squared off in the last ten days, with the previous two games finishing as draws.
The 1-1 draw between the sides on the final day of the regular season was one of only four home games Boro failed to win at the Riverside under Carrick, coming out on top in the other ten.
Carrick has transformed the Teessiders frontline since taking charge with Boro scoring at least once in all their home games under the former Manchester United boss and averaging just over 2.5 goals per game at the Riverside.
Coventry have never won at the Riverside in 13 previous attempts and failed to win away at any of the Championship’s top-10 this season.
They did at least score at Boro on their last visit and have netted in six of their last seven away games.
Prediction
Defences were definitely on top in the first leg of this tie, but Boro did create some decent chances and should create a few more opportunities in front of a sold-out Riverside Stadium.
Boro have been excellent at home under Carrick and should try to force the issue more than they did in the first leg.
And with the league’s topscorer Akpom and an in-form Cameron Archer in their ranks, the home side boasts an impressive arsenal.
Coventry are not without weapons themselves and if Boro do play a more expansive game, Gyokeres could get a bit of joy against a defence that’s only kept two clean sheets since March.
Boro should have too much for Coventry on home soil and, with both teams scoring in six of the last eight Championship play-off semi-final second legs entering this season, history suggests we should see a very different game to Sunday’s goalless draw.
Back Middlesbrough and both teams to score at 12/5 with LiveScore Bet.
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