IPSWICH TOWN v MIDDLESBROUGH
Football – England – Championship
Saturday 11th February 2012 – Kickoff: 1500hrs

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Ipswich Town take on Middlesbrough at Portman Road on Saturday in what could be an interesting match-up between two teams who have recently struggled for form.

Ipswich Town (19th)
HOME : 6-1-7 25/23

However, of the two, Ipswich Town are in better shape having strung together back-to-back wins against Championship leaders West Ham and a 3-2 win at Coventry City to ease their immediate relegation worries, and the Championship as a whole sat bolt upright and rubbed their eyes in disbelief when they heard about their 5-1 thrashing of The Hammers a couple of games back!

Have Ipswich turned the corner? I don’t know for sure, but this fixture will be a good indicator as Middlesbrough are the second best performing team away from home in the division. The Tractor Boys’ home record now stands at an inconsistent 6-1-7 25/23 but they did get a point against Blackpool following a 1-0 win over Derby County.

Leading scorer is goal-poacher Michael Chopra (10 goals, 2 assists) and he’s assisted by Jason Scotland (4 goals, 4 assists) and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas (4 goals, 3 assists) along with Aaron Cresswell (5 assists).

More importantly, the goals are beginning to flow for Ipswich who have scored 11 goals in their last four league matches.

Middlesbrough (6th)
AWAY : 7-3-4 18/18

Poor old Middlesbrough can’t take a trick at the moment and are without a win in their last six matches in all competitions; an extra-time defeat against north-east rivals Sunderland in the FA Cup replay in midweek will have done nothing for their confidence nor their fitness.

Boro now have to dust themselves off and face a resurgent Ipswich on Saturday knowing that another slip-up could result in them drifting out of the play-off places.

Middlesbrough have struggled for goals lately and have scored just 5 goals in their last seven Championship matches which is the catalyst for their dip in recent form I daresay.

Previously strong away from home, Boro are winless in their last three on the road with defeats at Blackpool and relegation-threatened Coventry City whilst managing only a draw at up-and-down Leicester City.

Boro’s away record stands at 7-3-4 18/18, and will be expected to field their full first team with Marvin Emnes starting along with Barry Robson and Scott McDonald possibly.

The Betting Veridct :

I can’t help but think Ipswich have the edge in this one with Boro’s extra time duties bound to have an effect, and I’ll back a confident Ipswich with the round ball at a reasonable price – Ipswich might just nick it 1-0 as well.

The Pick :

Ipswich 1-0 Middlesbrough

HANDICAP BETTING :

Main Pick :
Take Ipswich Town AH+0 @ 1.78 at Pinnacle