Middlesbrough vs Ipswich Prediction: Tractor Boys can secure vital win

We’ve got a belting game coming our way on Friday night as Middlesbrough host Ipswich Town at the Riverside (20:00 BST, Sky Sports Main Event). Boro lost their unbeaten record just before the international break at Portsmouth, while Kieran McKenna’s men ended their 16-year derby hoodoo against Norwich City and are flying right now. 

Below you can find my Middlesbrough vs Ipswich predictions featuring team news, match odds and more. 

Team News

Middlesbrough had Sontje Hansen in action for Curacao over the international break, and his late return could mean Rob Edwards makes changes in the final third. He started with Kaly Sene and Tommy Conway at the top end of the pitch at Pompey, but with Sverre Nypan, Morgan Whittaker and David Strelec all waiting in the wings, changes could be made from the off.

The back three of Luke Ayling, Dael Fry and Alfie Jones should all keep their places, while Hayden Hackney and Aidan Morris will continue their wonderful midfield partnership. Hackney turned down a move to Ipswich this summer, so there’s an extra storyline there, while Chuba Akpom will return to the Riverside with his new club - having won the Championship Golden Boot for Boro in 2022/23.

Football Odds

Ipswich’s incredibly strong squad means that McKenna has a selection headache heading into this game, although you'd expect the majority of the XI that beat Norwich to keep their places. 

Both Sammie Szmodics and Sindre Waller Egeli left their national team’s training camps over the break, but neither are thought to be suffering with serious injuries. Jacob Greaves and Kasey McAteer were both unused substitutes against the Canaries, which just proves how strong this squad is, given they could start here. Greaves may replace Cedric Kipre although he was solid at the back, while McAteer could start in place of the record signing, if Waller Egeli is deemed unfit to start. 

Plenty of options for McKenna, but the reliable George Hirst is set to spearhead the attack as always. 

Today's Football Fixtures

Middlesbrough vs Ipswich Odds

Middlesbrough are priced at 9/5 to win this game, while Ipswich are the marginal favourites at 8/5. That gives the Tractor Boys an implied win probability of 39%, while a draw is up at 11/5 at the time of writing. 

That shows the odds makers feel this is an incredibly evenly-matched fixture, while over 2.5 goals is priced up at 11/10. BTTS is 4/5 and Conway, Akpom, Hirst and Strelec are all 11/2 to open the scoring. You can find more odds on the link above. 

Ipswich to win @ 8/5

I feel good about backing Ipswich right now. In my eyes, despite the flying form of Coventry, they have the best squad in this league by quite a long way. Against Norwich they brought Marcelino Nunez, Jack Clarke, Ivan Azon and Akpom off the bench, with Greaves, McAteer, Ashley Young and Jack Taylor left as unused outfield subs. 

No team in the league can compete with that and I think it will shine through as we get stuck into the winter months. Middlesbrough have been good in the early part of this season, but they’ve only scored one goal in their last three games, picking up two points in the process. That drop-off needs to be fixed by Edwards and his staff, but I think this is one of the most difficult fixtures the Championship has to offer. Good price on an away win for a team that is unbeaten in five.

Luke Ayling to receive a card @ 11/5 

I think Brittain is going to play an important role for Boro given how attacking he has been at right wing-back this season. Edwards’ wing-backs throughout his managerial career have been very attacking, but they do leave room behind them - even going back to his days at Forest Green Rovers with Kane Wilson. 

With Philogene (not my lover), one of the best wingers in the Championship set to start on the left for Ipswich, he should be able to ‘cheat’ and stay high up the pitch. That in turn is going to leave the experienced Ayling exposed with plenty of runners in-behind him. The former Leeds man is averaging 2.51 tackles per 90, and 1.48 fouls per game as well. He’s only got one yellow so far, but I can see the referee having little choice but to put him in the book on Friday. 

And if Philogene can’t draw a foul or two from him, the Championship's version of Jack Grealish, Clarke, should be able to cause problems from the bench. 

Offers

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