Middlesbrough and Doncaster get their 2025-26 EFL Cup campaign underway when they square off at the Riverside Stadium on Tuesday.
This will be the first competitive meeting between the two teams since February 2014, when they played out a goalless draw in the Championship, and FootballWhispers takes a look at the odds of both teams progressing to the second round.
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Middlesbrough vs Doncaster: Lots of goalmouth action expected
Key stats
- Doncaster are in a run of 17 consecutive games without defeat in all competitions (11W, 6D) since March’s 1-0 defeat at the hands of Bromley.
- Middlesbrough have won just one of their last nine matches across all competitions while losing three and claiming five draws since April 18.
- Doncaster have netted the opening goal in eight of their most recent 10 games while netting a combined 27 goals across the 10 matches.
- Middlesbrough are unbeaten in six of their last seven competitive home matches, claiming five wins and one draw since the start of March.
Correct score prediction: Middlesbrough 3-1 Doncaster
Doncaster have flown out of the blocks in the new league campaign but they face a sterner challenge on Tuesday against a superior Middlesbrough side. Home advantage gives Boro an extra edge here and are tipping them to pick up the desired result.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Middlesbrough favoured by bookmakers
- HOME: 1/1 (2.00) – 50%
- DRAW: 13/5 (3.60) – 27.8%
- AWAY: 13/5 (3.60) – 27.8%
*Odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
The bookies have Middlesbrough as favourites to win the tie on Tuesday, indicated by their 50% win probability, compared to Doncaster’s 27.8%, while there is a 27.8% chance of a stalemate in normal time.
Middlesbrough kicked off the 2025-26 campaign on a positive note on Saturday when they held their own to see out a 1-0 victory over Swansea City on home turf.
Doncaster, meanwhile, fought back from behind to snatch a 2-1 victory over Mansfield in dramatic fashion as they needed a 96th-minute winner at the Field Mill Stadium.
For more from the upcoming EFL Cup fixtures, today’s free football betting tips take a look at some of the best picks from Football Whispers.
Most recent H2Hs: Middlesbrough exerting dominance
Middlesbrough are unbeaten in each of their last eight games against Doncaster, picking up five wins and three draws since a 2-1 loss in December 2010.
Their most recent meeting came in a friendly in July 2024, when Middlesbrough picked up a 5-3 victory in an eight-goal thriller at the Eco-Power Stadium.
UK Friendlies 27/07/24
Doncaster
Middlesbrough
Europe Friendlies 16/07/16
Doncaster
Middlesbrough
World Club Friendlies 25/07/15
Doncaster
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough Preview: Aiming to gather momentum
Middlesbrough picked up a dream start to the 2025-26 Championship campaign on Saturday when they secured a 1-0 victory over Swansea City at the Riverside Stadium.
With clear-cut chances at a premium, defender Dael Fry grabbed the headlines for Boro as he struck the only goal of the game six minutes after the break to hand them an opening-day victory.
This was a much-needed result for Rob Edwards’s men, who had failed to win any of their previous eight games across all competitions, including four draws and one defeat in their five pre-season friendly outings.
Middlesbrough secured a 3-0 victory over Leeds United in the EFL Cup opener last season, but their run came to an end in the second round courtesy of a 5-0 hammering at the hands of Stoke City.
Predicted lineup: Brynn (GK), Ayling, Fry, Jones, Brittain, Morris, Hackney, Silvera, Whittaker, Burgzorg, Conway
England Championship 03/05/25
L
Coventry
2
Middlesbrough
0
England Championship 26/04/25
D
Norwich
0
Middlesbrough
0
England Championship 21/04/25
L
Sheff Wed
2
Middlesbrough
1
England Championship 18/04/25
W
Plymouth
1
Middlesbrough
2
England Championship 12/04/25
L
Millwall
1
Middlesbrough
0
Doncaster preview: Tough to crack
Doncaster maintained their perfect start to the new League One campaign as they snatched a 2-1 comeback victory over Mansfield at the Field Mill Stadium on Saturday.
Following a goalless first half, Stephen McLaughlin struck in the 57th minute to put Mansfield in front, but Owen Bailey took matters into his own hands for Doncaster as he netted twice, including a dramatic 96th-minute winner.
Prior to that, Doncaster kicked off the new league campaign with a 1-0 victory over Exeter on August 2 courtesy of an 88th-minute penalty from English midfielder Luke Molyneux.
Grant McCann’s men’s solid start to the new term has been in keeping with their impressive display in pre-season, where they picked up three wins and two draws from their five warm-up matches.
Like Tuesday’s hosts, Doncaster reached the second round of the EFL Cup last season before suffering a 3-0 defeat against Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Predicted lineup: Lo-Tutala (GK), Maxwell, Pearson, O'Riordan, Bailey, Broadbent, Crew, Clifton, Middleton, Molyneux & Hanlan
England League 2 03/05/25
W
Notts County
1
Doncaster
2
England League 2 26/04/25
W
Bradford
1
Doncaster
2
England League 2 21/04/25
W
Colchester
0
Doncaster
3
England League 2 18/04/25
W
Tranmere
0
Doncaster
3
England League 2 15/04/25
D
Salford City
1
Doncaster
1
Players to watch – Luke Molyneux
With a goal and an assist to his name in the opening two games this season, Luke Molyneux has continued from where he dropped off last term and the 27-year-old forward will be one to keep an eye on at the Riverside Stadium.
Molyneux scored 16 goals in 45 League Two games last season to finish fifth in the league's scoring chart, while also providing the most assists in the division (12).
The Englishman has been involved in two of Doncaster's three goals this season, scoring the winner in the 1-0 victory over Exeter in the league opener on August 2, one week before setting up Owen Bailey's equaliser in the 2-1 comeback win over Mansfield.
Molyneux has been involved in 13 goals in Doncaster's last 14 matches across all competitions and should form the front three with Glenn Middleton and Brandon Hanlan.