Middlesbrough vs Coventry pick 01.01.2024

• Competition: Championship
• Date: 01.01.2024
• Kickoff: 15:00 UK / 16:00 CET
• Venue: Riverside Stadium (Middlesbrough)

Last season, Middlesbrough benefitted greatly from the arrival of legendary Manchester Utd player Michael Carrick, narrowly missing out on a much-anticipated promotion to the Premier League. This season, their aim was to continue challenging for top positions. However, things haven’t gone as planned. Currently, Middlesbrough sits in 9th place in the league table with 36 points, which is 3 points shy of the first club in the play-off zone. Their performance has been inconsistent in recent weeks, but they managed a crucial 2:1 away victory against Huddersfield in the last round.

On the contrary, Coventry is currently enjoying a streak of good results, however, the repercussions of a poor start to the season are still evident. This explains why, despite suffering only one defeat in their last 10 matches, they only hold the 12th position in the table with 34 points. On Friday, they played a disappointing 2:2 match against Swansea. The home team, Coventry, was on the brink of securing all three points, but in the final minute, substitute Liam Cullen managed to equalise with a superb free kick.

Middlesbrough vs Coventry pick: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE

Just six months ago, these two teams were battling it out in the play-offs for a spot in the Premier League, but their current situations are far removed from that scenario. Coventry unexpectedly emerged as the victors in that match-up, only to later be defeated by the Luton team in the final. Despite both clubs currently falling short of their projected rankings, this game arrives at an opportune time for them as they’re in good form. Middlesbrough have enjoyed victories in 3 of their last 4 matches across all competitions, while Coventry remain undefeated in their last 6 league games. During this time, both teams have displayed an aggressive offensive stance, and there’s no reason to expect a change in this match. Anticipate an open, fast-paced game with high intensity and little strategizing. Betting on both teams to score (BTTS) appears to be the optimal choice.