PREVIEW: Middlesbrough v Derby

[dropcap]C[/dropcap]hange is as good as a rest, so they say – I’m taking a rare departure to the Championship on Saturday for the first live game of the weekend- Middlesbrough v Derby at the Riverside (SKY 12.15pm).

It’s very much a top of the table clash with Boro (4th) taking on the leaders Derby. There’s only two points between them and it’s a chance for Middlesbrough to take the lead in the table, even though it might only be temporary and subject to results later in the afternoon.

And that’s just what I think will happen as I feel Derby’s fragile away form may haunt them again. As our head to head stats show Boro have won 4 and drawn 1 of their last five home fixtures against Derby.

Middlesbrough v Derby County
Championship
12.15pm LIVE on SKY

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Maximum 10 matches)
Apr 2014 Championship Middlesbro 1-0 Derby
Dec 2013 Championship Derby 2-1 Middlesbro
Jan 2013 Championship Derby 3-1 Middlesbro
Oct 2012 Championship Middlesbro 2-2 Derby
Apr 2012 Championship Derby 0-1 Middlesbro
Oct 2011 Championship Middlesbro 2-0 Derby
Mar 2011 Championship Middlesbro 2-1 Derby
Sep 2010 Championship Derby 3-1 Middlesbro
Mar 2010 Championship Derby 2-2 Middlesbro
Oct 2009 Championship Middlesbro 2-0 Derby

Boro skipper Jonathan Woodgate is expected to return for this key match after a hamstring injury as is his Derby counterpart Richard Keogh.

The Boro come into this on the back of a particularly impressive 5-1 defeat of Millwall at the Den last Saturday (they were 4-0 up at HT).

The only setback for the north-east side going into this game is that head coach Aitor Karanka will have to watch from the stands after he was handed a one game touchline ban from the FA having allegedly pushed fourth official David Coote after a controversial late equaliser in their game against Blackburn last month.

I fancy Middlesbrough to come out on top in this and am backing them at 13/10 with Star Sports.

RECOMMENDED BETS (scale of 1-50 points)

BACK BORO at around 13/10 for 5 points with Star Sports

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