Crystal Palace vs Middlesbrough — Tips & Analysis

Middlesbrough +0.75: Palace are expected to make a lot of changes, and that is the main reason we are with Middlesbrough. Palace have a league game against Ipswich at the weekend and start their European campaign the week after. That is a heavy run for the players who matter. Palace have also been leaky at Selhurst Park, letting in almost 2 goals a game. They have lost by 2 or more in 6 of their last 16 games. Middlesbrough are second in the Championship and playing well. They won 1-0 at QPR last time out, they score more than a goal a game and let in just over one. The big number is this. Middlesbrough have not lost by 2 or more in any of their last 17 games. They are awkward to break down on the road as well, where they have tied 4 of their 9 away trips. A much changed Palace side against an organised, in form Boro team points to a close night. The eight meetings on record averaged just over 2 goals. A 1-1 that heads for penalties is the most likely result, and Boro can live with that. The risk is that Palace name a stronger team than expected. They beat Fulham 3-2 only three days ago and can hurt anyone at their own ground. Even so, Boro are the side we want.