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Middlesbrough - Blackpool
England Championship - Riverside
Prediction 1
Middlesbrough to win
4/7 (1.57)
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Odds from
Prediction 2
Under 2.5 goals
1/1 (2.00)
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Odds from
* Betting odds were correct at the time of publication but are subject to change.
Here we bring you Championship predictions for Middlesbrough vs Blackpool with the game due to take place on Saturday 4th February.
Middlesbrough vs Blackpool: Our top betting predictions
Middlesbrough have really upped their game since changing manager to Michael Carrick. Here though they face a Blackpool side hoping to get a new manager bounce of their own with Mick McCarthy at the helm. Who will win as they meet? Find out with our Middlesbrough vs Blackpool match preview with free tips, predictions and odds mentioned along the way.
Contents
- 1 Middlesbrough vs Blackpool: Our top betting predictions
- 2 Here are the key stats & form guide for Middlesbrough vs Blackpool
- 3 Check out the predicted lineups ahead of Middlesbrough vs Blackpool
- 4 Starting Lineups
- 5 Player to watch
- 6 Check out the latest standings
- 7 A quickfire FAQ on Middlesbrough vs Blackpool
Boro to win again
New manager bounce or not for Blackpool we simply don't see them getting a result at the Riverside. That means we are starting our predictions for this game by backing Middlesbrough to win. Middlesbrough have won nine of the 13 games Michael Carrick has been in charge of and their form at home has been especially strong with one draw and then four wins on the spin in the league. Blackpool meanwhile are struggling massively having not won away from home since October. We fancy Mick McCarthy to make serious improvements to the Seasiders – but not soon enough to benefit them in a game like this.
A low scoring match
Our next prediction sees us backing under 2.5 goals and here the Mick McCarthy factor has entered our thinking. The former Wolves boss will be making Blackpool solid as his first job with his mantra very much “if you can't win, don't lose” and, even before his appointment they weren't exactly going goal crazy; three of their last four away games have gone under the 2.5 goal cut off with an average of 2.3 goals per game. As for Middlesbrough, each of their last three games have ended south of the 2.5 mark. It all points to a low scoring match up.
Here are the key stats & form guide for Middlesbrough vs Blackpool
Head to Head
08/11/22
England Championship CHA
Blackpool
Middlesbrough
0
3
10/09/22
England Championship CHA
Blackpool
Middlesbrough
0
0
29/12/21
England Championship CHA
Blackpool
Middlesbrough
1
2
18/09/21
England Championship CHA
Middlesbrough
Blackpool
1
2
11/08/21
England EFL Cup EFL Cup
Blackpool
Middlesbrough
3
0
Last Five - Middlesbrough
03/05/25
England Championship CHA
Coventry
Middlesbrough
2
0
L
26/04/25
England Championship CHA
Norwich
Middlesbrough
0
0
D
21/04/25
England Championship CHA
Sheff Wed
Middlesbrough
2
1
L
18/04/25
England Championship CHA
Plymouth
Middlesbrough
1
2
W
12/04/25
England Championship CHA
Millwall
Middlesbrough
1
0
L
Last Five - Blackpool
03/05/25
England League 1 League 1
Bristol Rovers
Blackpool
1
4
W
30/04/25
England League 1 League 1
Birmingham
Blackpool
2
0
L
26/04/25
England League 1 League 1
Wigan
Blackpool
1
1
D
21/04/25
England League 1 League 1
Wrexham
Blackpool
2
1
L
18/04/25
England League 1 League 1
Stevenage
Blackpool
1
3
W
So, that gives you some insight to how the different bookmakers see the action unfolding. How though do the bookies odds translate into probabilities ahead of this game and how might that impact your view of our predictions? Let's find out.
Middlesbrough odds: 4/7 (1.57) – xx%
Draw odds: 3/1 (4.00) – xx%
Blackpool odds: 14/3 (Odds TBC) – xx%
It won't take much of a math genius to realise that the chances of a Blackpool win in this game are extremely slim. In fact, the bookies don't even think a draw is all that likely with Middlesbrough heavily odds on to take all three points. Something else where the bookies are reasonably confident in their view is the total goals market; they've got ‘under 2.5 goals' priced up as odds on!
Check out the predicted lineups ahead of Middlesbrough vs Blackpool
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick has overseen a real machine of late with Boro sweeping sides aside left, right and centre. Having recently beaten Watford we see a similar lineup for this game. That said, the likes of Matt Crooks might be back in the XI if they get their way.
Predicted lineup – Steffen, Smith, McNair, Lenihan, Giles, Hackney, Howson, Forss, Akpom, Crooks, Archer
Blackpool
We still don't really know what Blackpool will look like under Mick McCarthy but defensively solid – or at least intending to be – is almost guaranteed. The Seasiders played a back five against Southampton in the cup but we can see McCarthy going a little bit more expansive in this match. Personnel wise, if could easily be the same XI.
Predicted lineup – Maxwell, Lyons, Connolly, Goode, Husband, Hamilton, Patino, Trybull, Bowler, Poveda, Yates
Starting Lineups
Middlesbrough
Blackpool
*Starting lineups are usually announced one hour prior to kick off.
Player to watch
We've backed Middlesbrough man Matt Crooks to make a return to the starting XI in this game and, if he does, there is a strong chance he has a big say on the match. The midfielder turned striker has been directly involved in four goals in his last five league games – despite playing time being limited in a couple of those games.
Check out the latest standings
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | +/- | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 Leeds |
46 | 29 | 13 | 4 | 65 | 100 |
| 2 |
 Burnley |
46 | 28 | 16 | 2 | 53 | 100 |
| 3 |
 Sheff Utd |
46 | 28 | 8 | 10 | 27 | 90 |
| 4 |
 Sunderland |
46 | 21 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 76 |
| 5 |
 Coventry |
46 | 20 | 9 | 17 | 6 | 69 |
| 6 |
 Bristol City |
46 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 4 | 68 |
| 7 |
 Blackburn |
46 | 19 | 9 | 18 | 5 | 66 |
| 8 |
 Millwall |
46 | 18 | 12 | 16 | -2 | 66 |
| 9 |
 West Brom |
46 | 15 | 19 | 12 | 10 | 64 |
| 10 |
Middlesbrough |
46 | 18 | 10 | 18 | 8 | 64 |
| 11 |
 Swansea |
46 | 17 | 10 | 19 | -5 | 61 |
| 12 |
 Sheff Wed |
46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | -9 | 58 |
| 13 |
 Norwich |
46 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 3 | 57 |
| 14 |
 Watford |
46 | 16 | 9 | 21 | -8 | 57 |
| 15 |
 QPR |
46 | 14 | 14 | 18 | -10 | 56 |
| 16 |
 Portsmouth |
46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | -13 | 54 |
| 17 |
 Oxford Utd |
46 | 13 | 14 | 19 | -16 | 53 |
| 18 |
 Stoke |
46 | 12 | 15 | 19 | -17 | 51 |
| 19 |
 Derby |
46 | 13 | 11 | 22 | -8 | 50 |
| 20 |
 Preston |
46 | 10 | 20 | 16 | -11 | 50 |
| 21 |
 Hull |
46 | 12 | 13 | 21 | -10 | 49 |
| 22 |
 Luton |
46 | 13 | 10 | 23 | -24 | 49 |
| 23 |
 Plymouth |
46 | 11 | 13 | 22 | -37 | 46 |
| 24 |
 Cardiff |
46 | 9 | 17 | 20 | -25 | 44 |
A quickfire FAQ on Middlesbrough vs Blackpool
- Where is the match being played? – Riverside
- Who do the bookmakers have as favourites? – Middlesbrough
- What time does the match kick off? 15:00 GMT
