On Friday, at 17:30, when the whole of Europe will be watching the UEFA Nations League matches, we bet on a match from the English League Cup.
This summer, Middlesbrough won both friendly matches against Plymouth (1-0) and Newcastle United (5-1). The team from the north of England ended on a positive note the previous season of the Championship, in which they managed important away victories, with Reading (2-1) and Sheffield Wednesday (2-1). Thus, the band coached by Neil Warnock was saved from demotion and in 2021 hopes to get involved in the fight for promotion! The ambitions are big, but the white-red team still needs consistent reinforcements to attack the Top 6 in the second league.
Without Paddy McNair, called up to the Northern Ireland national team for the match with Romania, in the UEFA Nations League, Middlesbrough is the favorite in front of a team that doesn’t tell us much. Shrewsbury was inconsistent last season and finished 15th in League One, far from relegation, but far from promotion. The yellow-blue group is not an impressive one and that is why we believe that Middlesbrough starts with the first chance for success. If Warnock uses the best “11” possible, then the hosts should qualify.
The only direct duel between the two camps took place in 2012, in the English Cup, when Middlesbrough won 1-0 at home. And then, the difference in value between the two clubs was significant. Even though he lost the striker Gestede, Boro has quality players in the group, such as Howson, Saville, Assombalonga and Tavernier. They play in one direction and we bet on the success of the white-reds, but without seeing a big difference in the end.
-Middlesbrough have won 4 of the last 5 games;
-Shrewsbury has scored only once in the previous five official trips;
-In each of Shrewsbury’s last 5 away games, they have scored under 2.5 goals;
-At least three goals have been scored in 4 of the last 5 matches played at home by Boro;
PREDICTION: Middlesbrough to win @ 1,75
