The Riverside will play host to Middlesbrough and Coventry City in a Championship play-off semi-final second leg that will see one team take a step closer to the promised land of the Premier League.
The two sides played out a goalless draw at the CBS Arena but we can expect a more intense affair between two sides with different footballing philosophies, despite both managers making their names as players under the great Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.
It would be remiss of Badman Betting not to provide you with one of our excellent Stats Pack for an encounter of this magnitude and to learn more about how to use them, check out the guide via this link.
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MIDDLESBROUGH VS COVENTRY PREDICTED LINEUPS
Attacking Forss could return for Middlesbrough
Michael Carrick has overseen some turnaround at Middlesbrough and his ability to let players off their leash via unique positions has helped. That includes Riley McGree moving from a central position to the left, Ryan Giles tucking in at left-back, Chuba Akpom scoring goals as a withdrawn forward and Marcus Forss finding his feet as a right-winger. The latter could be the only change, replacing Isaiah Jones.
Loyal Robins could back Allen to make an impact
Mark Robins has shown incredible loyalty to those who continue to perform despite rising up the divisions and it shows with Kyle McFadzean, Liam Kelly and Matty Godden expecting to get the nod again for this tie. Jamie Allen joined the club the year of their promotion from League One and could replace youngster Josh Eccles in midfield to provide additional experience.
MIDDLESBROUGH VS COVENTRY TEAM STATS
Goals the game for Middlesbrough
A confident, attacking approach has been behind Middlesbrough’s rise from surprise relegation candidates to promotion hopefuls, accruing the best xG numbers in the Championship and outscoring them. However, they are vulnerable defensively despite conceding the fourth fewest shots in the division, sitting mid-table for goals conceded and opposition shots on target.
The control they exert in matches shows in their number of corner kicks per game, Boro’s 6.11 the third highest across the Championship and you can back them to have a few more in front of a buoyant home crowd as they chase promotion.
Coventry overperforming defensively
Structure on the field has been key amid a lack of structure off it and Coventry’s confidence in what they are doing with and without the ball has shown in their defensive numbers, overperforming defensively to concede the fourth fewest goals of any team in the Championship and continuing that with a clean sheet in the first leg.
They’re not afraid to get drawn into physical battles, however, and cards are worth a look for your Middlesbrough vs Coventry bet builder with the Sky Blues earning and drawing two cards per 90 each.
MIDDLESBROUGH VS COVENTRY SHOTS AND SHOTS ON TARGET STATS
Tommy Smith a wildcard for Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough’s attacking style of play inevitably leads to a lot of chances for their forwards – Marcus Forss has had the fewest shots per 90 of the quartet likely to play in midweek with 1.92 while the front two are hitting over one shot on target per 90. A rogue shout for your bet builder is Tommy Smith who has had a shot on goal in seven of his last nine matches and is available to have a shot at goal at 1.73.
Hamer having fun for Coventry
Gustavo Hamer is arguably the Championship’s box office player and a new lease of life playing in behind a front two of Viktor Gyokeres and Matty Godden has unleashed his attacking instincts, having three or more shots at goal in nine of his last 12 appearances, including three in the reverse fixture. He has also had a shot on target in nine of his last 13 matches. Jake Bidwell could be an option for your Middlesbrough vs Coventry bet builder, the left-wing-back has had a shot at goal in eight of the last ten matches he has played at least 45 minutes in.
MIDDLESBROUGH VS COVENTRY GOALS AND ASSISTS STATS
Akpom having a career season
Ex-Arsenal youngster Chuba Akpom had never scored more than eight goals in a league campaign before the 2022-23 season and the 27-year-old has been electric under Carrick, bagging 28 goals for the year. The man leading the line in front of him since January, Cameron Archer, has also managed 17 goals contributions. You can back both to score in your bet builder at 5.03 – they have managed to score in the same game five times since mid-February.
Gyokeres the leading man for Coventry
Viktor Gyokeres was something of a wildcard until settling at Coventry and having truly broken through last season, he has taken his game to another level this term with over 30 goal contributions – that’s an involvement in more than half of his team’s goals. As mentioned above, Gustavo Hamer isn’t afraid to let fly and his ability to take a set-piece has helped him to 20 goal contributions – you can pick him to score or assist in your Middlesbrough vs Coventry bet builder at 2.8.
MIDDLESBROUGH VS COVENTRY PASSING STATS
Hackney the pass master for Boro
Middlesbrough’s attacking style involves a heavy stance on possession being key and in the absence of their usual dictator Jonny Howson, Hayden Hackney stepped up to the mark, attempting over 100 passes in the reverse fixture. Boro will play on the front foot at home and you can back Hackney to make a similar number of passes as his team look to build from defensive areas.
Doyle the outlet for Coventry’s backline
While Coventry are a side comfortable in possession, they are also happy without it and that proved in the 0-0 draw last time out where they had the ball for just 40% of the game. Gustavo Hamer leads their passing metric over the season but it was Callum Doyle that saw most of the ball in the reverse fixture, attempting 58 passes, evidence that this is a young man brought up at Manchester City.
MIDDLESBROUGH CARDS AND FOULS STATS
Hayden Hackney hacking opponents
Hayden Hackney is a boyhood fan of the club he now dons the shirt for and that passion has certainly spilled over with nine yellow cards, along with the engine roomer making just shy of two fouls per 90. Marcus Forss is a dark horse here, the diminutive striker-turned-winger is committing over 1.5 fouls per 90 and at least one in eight of the last 11 matches in which he has played at least half hour.
Hackney will have his work cut out again because he’s up against the ferocious Hamer, an all-action midfielder who commits to over two dribbles and is fouled nearly once per 90. The Brazilian has been fouled in each of his last seven starts. While Gyokeres is clearly the man to watch for Coventry, it’s worth noting that Kyle McFadzean is fouled 0.77 times per 90 and has been fouled in 17 of his last 24 outings.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry Key Matchups
Hayden Hackney vs Gustavo Hamer
Paddy McNair vs Viktor Gyokeres
Marcus Forss vs Callum Doyle
COVENTRY CARDS AND FOULS STATS
Hamer a danger to opponents
Once again, we are looking at Gustavo Hamer. To his credit, the former PEC Zwolle man has curbed the aggression that saw him sent off twice earlier in the season but that tenacious side still remains in his game, committing a foul in ten of his last 12 appearances and three or more in half of those. Gyokeres is also worth keeping an eye on, the powerful Swedish striker has committed two fouls in his last two appearances against Boro and sinned six times in the early season matchup.
While Coventry have Hamer, Middlesbrough have Akpom, the striker-turned-attacking-midfielder who has become a real danger dropping off the front and running at opponents – he has been fouled 14 times in his last three appearances and three or more times in 16 of his last 26. Alex Mowatt hasn’t played as much as he would have liked but in the last eight matches in which he has played at least 30 minutes, he has been fouled on seven occasions.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry Key Matchups
Liam Kelly vs Chuba Akpom
Gustavo Hamer vs Alex Mowatt
Viktor Gyokeres vs Darragh Lenihan
MIDDLESBROUGH VS COVENTRY BET BUILDER TIPS AND PICKS OF THE PACK
There are four bet builder angles that we have identified as value plays that you may want to incorporate into your Middlesbrough vs Coventry bet. Feel free to swap in or add some of your own selections as well ahead of kickoff.
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Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
17th May
kick off 20:00 Middlesbrough over 4.5 corners
Middlesbrough averaging 6.11 corners per game.
Coventry conceding average of 5.37 corners per game.
Middlesbrough at home in play-off semi-final so will be on front foot.
Coventry over 1.5 cardsCoventry picking up 2.11 cards per 90.
Middlesbrough drawing 2.13 cards per 90.
David Coote dishing over three cards per 90.
Hayden Hackney 2+ FoulsHayden Hackney averaging 1.97 fouls per 90.
Hackney committed 2 or more fouls in nine of last 12 matches.
Gustavo Hamer direct opponent – he has been fouled in last 7 starts.
Gustavo Hamer 1+ Shots on TargetGustavo Hamer averaging 1.01 shots on target per 90.
Hamer has had a shot on target in nine of last 13 appearances.
Hamer has had three or more shots in nine of last 12 matches.
Brazilian takes most of Coventry’s set-pieces.
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