Norwich Host Middlesbrough As Championship Promotion Race Continues

Norwich host Middlesbrough tonight in a match that is sure to severely affect the Championship promotion race. At the minute just two points separate the teams in the top four positions, those being table toppers Bournemouth, second placed Norwich, Watford in third and fourth placed Middlesbrough. A victory for the home team then would see them catapulted to the top of the table with just two games left to play. An away triumph for the Teeside club would see them rise to the dizzy heights of pole position. Such a result for either side would put pressure on Bournemouth and Watford prior to them playing their respective matches on Saturday.

The last time Norwich met Middlesbrough was back in November in the reverse second tier fixture. Played at Boro`s Riverside Stadium, it was the hosts who ran out the worthy winners, they managing to secure a 4-0 success. The Canaries were then under the stewardship of ex-boss Neil Adams before he was replaced by Alex Neil, formerly of Hamilton Academicals. As now, Middlesbrough were managed by former Real Madrid assistant Aitor Karanka.

Patrick Bamford put the home side in front with the game just five minutes young before the hosts` lead was doubled through a Grant Leadbitter penalty, converted just after the half an hour mark. The scoreboard read 2-0 at half time.

It took 25 minutes after the restart for Middlesbrough to further extend their lead and Leadbitter to grab his second goal of the match. A good victory was rounded off by the club when Yanic Wildschut earned them a fourth just five minutes from time.

With both teams fighting it out for promotion, there doesn`t seem much chance of such a clear result in what should be a tense affair. Middlesbrough can be backed at a massive 225/1 at paddy Power to record a 4-0 result away from home. Fifty-to-one (bet365, paddy Power) says that Leadbitter will manage to hit the back of the net twice or more in the match once again whilst the best price on exactly four goals being scored between the two sides is 11/2, available at both bet365 and william hill.

Indeed it is Norwich who are the favourites to grab all three points by any means tonight. The home side can be picked up at 21/10 at the trio of bet365, Coral and paddy power to send Middlesbrough back to the North East empty handed. Otherwise, boylesports have the best price of 16/5 on the away side doing the double over the Canaries. Most bookmakers have reckoned a draw up at 5/2.

Adams` men are on an outstanding run of form at the moment that has seen them not drop a point in any of their last five matches - home or away. What`s more they have not lost a game since 4th March, failing to get the better of the struggling Wigan, losing by a goal to nil.

Norwich have scored nine goals in there five undefeated ties, the equivalent of just under two a game. Whilst the Norfolk club are available at 15/4 to put over 2.5 goals past Boro tonight, boylesports` 1/5 says that they will score under 2.5 goals.

Bradley Johnson hit three of these nine goals and is on offer at the best price of 11/1 (boylesports) to break the deadlock.

Although Middlesbrough have been able to earn themselves back-to-back wins, they have only won one of their last five on the road failing to score in three of these encounters. A Norwich win to nil is currently on offer at 9/4 at Spreadex.

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17/04/2015     © Frixo 2024