Eng. Championship
2013-04-20 - Bolton vs Middlesbrough
A Sports Betting Pick by ArmchairPunter
Football – England – Championship
Saturday 20th April 2013 – Kickoff: 1500hrs
BOLTON
Bolton Wanderers take on Middlesbrough in a top half Championship clash on Saturday afternoon at the Reebok Stadium as the hosts look to take advantage of play-off rivals Crystal Palace and Leicester City’s face-off this afternoon as well.
With just three matches of the season remaining, Bolton could sneak into a play-off berth with a win here as they’re currently just one point behind sixth placed Leicester City, and The Foxes do not have a particularly good away record going into their trip to Selhurst Park. Bolton’s form at the Reebok however has been very impressive in recent weeks having won their last seven straight on home soil.
Bolton’s overall home record stands at a much improved 13-5-3 33/17 and they’ve won their last five at home all to nil; 1-0 wins over Peterborough United, Blackburn Rovers, Brighton and Huddersfield Town along with a 2-0 win over Wolves last time out.
They’ll need and will depend on their home form now in this the final straight with two home games left – Middlesbrough and Blackpool, as they travel to already promoted Cardiff City in between.
As a side note, Bolton have kept eight clean sheets at home so far this season going into this match.
MIDDLESBROUGH
Despite beating Nottingham Forest in midweek, visitors Middlesbrough appear to have yet again blown a chance to at least reach the play-off stage with Boro still some six points adrift of Leicester City with three matches left, they will be regretting their recent run of seven matches without a win prior to the Forest result.
Indeed, Boro took just one point from the possible 21 on offer and has cost them dearly in the race for a play-off place with just one home match remaining which is next weekend’s clash with Charlton Athletic at the Riverside Stadium.
Looking at their away form though, and you can see why Middlesbrough have struggled to maintain their bid for promotion; ten matches without a win which includes nine straight defeats and one draw at Burnley is not the form required for the step up into the big time.
Defeats at Leicester City, Crustal Palace and Hull City amongst others proves they are still some way off from making a serious promotion challenge and it’s back to the drawing board for manager Tony Mowbray and his players unless a miracle occurs.
THE BETTING VERDICT:
Bolton are on a roll at home right now and they should dispose of the visiting Boro like an empty crisp packet, so I’ll back the hosts for a straight win here with Bolton winning perhaps 1-0. If Middlesbrough lose, Mowbray could be looking for employment elsewhere...
The Pick :
Bolton1 Middlesbrough 0
BEST BETTING TIP :
Pick: Bolton straight win @ 1.80 Paddy Power
