Middlesbrough will look to bounce from their derby day defeat to Sunderland when they take on Stoke at the Riverside this weekend.
The hosts have had an average start to the campaign, winning twice, drawing twice and losing twice in their opening six league fixtures of the campaign.
The visitors have had a poor start, though, picking up just six points from their opening six matches and another season battling relegation looms large.
As part of our latest round of Championship betting tips, check out our Middlesbrough vs Stoke prediction.
Contents
- 1 Middlesbrough vs Stoke prediction: A tight clash to end all square
- 2 Pre-game odds and win probability: The hosts come in as favourites
- 3 Most recent H2Hs: Battle scars for Boro
- 4 Middlesbrough preview: Time to excite the fans again
- 5 Stoke preview: At a crossroad
- 6 Player to watch: Emmanuel Latte Lath
Middlesbrough vs Stoke prediction: A tight clash to end all square
Key Stats
- Five of Middlesbrough's six Championship matches this season have produced fewer than three goals.
- Three of Stokes' last four matches have produced fewer than three goals.
- One-third of Middlesbrough's fixtures this season have ended in a draw.
- The two teams only combined for seven corners last weekend.
Correct score prediction: Middlesbrough 1-1 Stoke
Stoke could be heading for their first draw of the season this weekend as these two teams are pretty evenly matched on paper. Middlesbrough have already drawn twice and they have been good at keeping league matches to low scorelines so don't expect either team to score more than once on Saturday afternoon.
Pre-game odds and win probability: The hosts come in as favourites
- WIN: 4/6 (1.67) – 60%
- DRAW: 29/10 (3.90) – 25.6%
- AWAY: 19/5 (4.80) – 20.8%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
Middlesbrough come into this match as favourites with the bookies seemingly believing that home advantage could play a key role in determining the winner on Saturday. Ladbrokes have priced a home win at 4/6 while a win for Stoke has been priced as short as 19/5. The draw, which we are predicting, has been priced at 29/10.
Check out today's betting tips page for more predictions.
Most recent H2Hs: Battle scars for Boro
Middlesbrough's status as favourites for this match will raise some eyebrows as it was only last month that Stoke turned up to the Riverside in the EFL Cup and hammered the hosts 5-0. That result wasn't exactly out of the ordinary either as the Potters are unbeaten in their last five matches against Boro and also won at the Riverside in last season's corresponding fixture.
England EFL Cup 27/08/24

Middlesbrough

Stoke
England Championship 02/03/24

Stoke

Middlesbrough
England Championship 28/10/23

Middlesbrough

Stoke
England Championship 14/03/23

Middlesbrough

Stoke
England Championship 17/08/22

Stoke

Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough preview: Time to excite the fans again
Michael Carrick was the flavour of the month when he took over at Middlesbrough a couple of seasons ago but things have stagnated slightly over the past six months or so. While nobody is suggesting that the former Man Utd midfielder should be axed, a return to the free-flowing football fans saw when he first joined the club wouldn't go amiss.
Predicted lineup: Dieng (GK), Ayling, Edmundson, Clarke, Borges, Hackney, Morris, Doak, Conway, McGree, Latte Lath.
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
Stoke preview: At a crossroad
Steven Schumacher deserves praise for the job he did at Stoke last season and keeping them up was a case of mission accomplished. What they can go on to do this season remains to be seen but there is a feeling around the club that they are at a bit of a crossroads. A win on the road could make the season ahead a lot clearer.
Predicted lineup: Johansson (GK), Tchamadeu, Wilmot, Gibson, Bocat, Koumas, Thompson, Burger, Bae, Manhoef, Cannon.
England Championship 03/05/25
D

Derby
0

Stoke
0
England Championship 25/04/25
L

Sheff Utd
2

Stoke
0
England Championship 21/04/25
L

Leeds
6

Stoke
0
England Championship 18/04/25
W

Sheff Wed
0

Stoke
2
England Championship 12/04/25
W

Cardiff
0

Stoke
1
Player to watch: Emmanuel Latte Lath
Emmanuel Latte Lath had a season to remember in 2023/24, scoring 16 league goals for Middlesbrough in his first season for the club. This time around, the Ivory Coast international is perhaps suffering from second-season syndrome as his yet to find anything close to that form.
Although Latte Lath netted on the opening weekend of the season, he has since done nothing of note and Michael Carrick will be concerned. Can he temper those concerns this weekend?