Middlesbrough vs Blackburn Prediction: Boro to bounce back

Kim Hellberg's Riverside honeymoon is over and the Swede will hope to return Boro to winning ways back on Teesside against Blackburn on Boxing Day (15:00, Sky Sports+).

Hellberg's four-game winning streak in his first four games was ended by Bristol City, on the same day that Blackburn were winning for the first time in six to nudge away from the bottom three. Steve Davies provides his Middlesbrough vs Blackburn Rovers predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Boro forward Riley McGree limped out of Saturday's loss at Bristol City and has been ruled out of the holiday programme.

Darragh Lenihan is still out but Kim Hellberg, desperate for more defensive options, will be pleased to see Dael Fry available after a lay-off.

Blackburn's injury situation has just got worse with forward Andri Gudjohnsen the latest to be ruled out. He joins Balazs Toth, Hayden Carter, Scott Wharton, Augustus Kargbo, Adam Forshaw and Kristi Montgomery on the treatment table.

Football Odds

Today's Football Fixtures

Middlesbrough vs Blackburn Odds

Middlesbrough are 5/6 to bounce back from Bristol City defeat with a win while Blackburn are a 16/5 chance. They won at the Riverside twice last season, once in the league and also in the FA Cup.

In fact Rovers have not lost at Middlesbrough on their last 11 visits, seven of which have been draws. A Boxing Day stalemate this time around is a 13/5 poke.

Middlesbrough to win @ 5/6

Kim Hellberg has finally tasted defeat but expect the feeling to be a short-lived one.

After a magical four-match winning streak to kick off his Middlesbrough reign, the Teessiders were beaten 2-0 at Bristol City last weekend.

But they were desperately unlucky, hitting a post, firing off 28 shots and utterly bossing possession, and the loss looks more like a blip than anything long-term.

Which is bad news for Blackburn who have to fear being put under the cosh at the Riverside.

Rovers have actually picked up more points on their travels than at home - 16 to 9 - and have won at places like Hull, Leicester and, where Boro failed, Ashton Gate.

They also head east having snapped a five-game winless run by beating Millwall, another high-flier, 2-0.

They are clearly capable but Boro have won seven of 10 at home this term, their sole loss coming against the one team above them in the table, Coventry, and they can win this well.

Over 4.5 Middlesbrough Corners @ 5/4

Boro have earned 41 corners in their five matches under Hellberg, testament to the attacking intent he has been determined to ingrain at the club.

Given that they also boss possession, expect the hosts to be camped in the Rovers' third and firing off shots and winning corners.

They clocked up 13 at Bristol City at the weekend so, in theory, should have little difficulty getting to five against Valerien Ismael's men.

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