Doncaster vs Middlesbrough — Tips & Analysis

Under 3: Neither of these teams has been scoring, and that is the heart of this one. Doncaster have barely scored at home, under a goal a game across six matches there. Their games in general have had almost 2 goals in them, and only 4 of their last 13 finished with 3 goals or more. Middlesbrough have not been much livelier on the road. They have won only one of their eight away games, and their own games have had just over 2 goals in them on average. They have been the better side on chances lately, even in defeat at Blackburn, but they turn that into one goal, not three. Both managers are set to make several changes. Fresh legs sound like more goals, and it rarely works that way in a cup tie, because rotated teams take a long time to click. Neither of these attacks clicks quickly at the best of times. A 0-1 to Boro is the shape we expect, a grind decided by one moment rather than a night of chances. That leaves our pick well clear. The catch is the history between them. The last 6 meetings averaged just over 3 goals, and Doncaster beat Middlesbrough 4-0 in this same competition last season, so a one-sided night is not impossible. We still want the low-scoring game.