Chelsea vs Middlesbrough Prediction: Palmer to make up for first-leg mishaps

Chelsea host Middlesbrough in the second-leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night (20:00). The visitors head to the capital with a slender one-goal advantage as the Blues were left to rue missed chances on Teesside a fortnight ago.

They registered 18 shots at the Riverside and they cannot afford to squander their opportunities this time around with a cup final at stake.

Match Odds

Chelsea are the overwhelming favourites to win this game at 1/4, so there isn't any value there. A draw can be backed at 11/2, while Boro are 17/2 to record their first win at Stamford Bridge since 1975.

Both teams to score has landed in eight out of Middlesbrough's last 10 away matches, you can back this market at 4/5 here. Over 2.5 goals is available at 2/5.

Team News

Mauricio Pochettino still has an injury crisis with several players out of action due to injury. Marc Cucurella, Wesley Fofana, Reece James, Romeo Lavia, Christopher Nkunku, Robert Sanchez and Lesley Ugochukwu are all in the medical bay.

Forward Nicolas Jackson is currently away on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Senegal.

Boro boss Michael Carrick has a few injury problems of his own with Darragh Lenihan, Alex Bangura, Tommy Smith and Emmanuel Latte Lath all out of contention.

Duo Riley McGree and Sam Silvera are representing Australia at the Asian Cup.

Cole Palmer to score first @ 3/1

For what felt like the first time since he moved to Chelsea, Cole Palmer looked human as his Midas touch in front of goal abandoned him in the first leg. The Manchester City academy graduate had enough chances to score a hat-trick.

This could have easily seen the attacker's confidence take a hit but it didn't do any such thing. In his next outing he was back on the scoresheet, converting a penalty in his side's 1-0 victory over Fulham in the Premier League.

And with a week's rest under his belt, he will be eager to have another crack at Carrick's men and make amends for his missed chances in the reverse fixture.

Stamford Bridge isn't a happy hunting ground for Boro and so we are expecting Chelsea to take control of the second leg early, and we fancy the prolific Palmer to open the proceedings.

Chelsea to win to nil @ 6/5

They may have given themselves work to do in the second leg, but Chelsea created more than enough chances to put the tie beyond doubt at the Riverside, and we're backing them to be more clinical on home soil.

Palmer won't let the same thing happen twice against Boro, and we are confident that he will get on the scoresheet here. If they have anywhere near as many as the 18 shots they registered in the first leg, and they compose themselves in the final third, they could score a few against Carrick's side.

After experiencing the high of beating Chelsea at home, Boro backed it up with a 3-1 win at Millwall in the Championship. However, in their last league outing, they dropped a two huge points in the play-offs race as they were held to a point against relegation-threatened Rotherham United.

Boro have failed to beat the Millers in their two meetings with them this term and the stalemate at the weekend will have an effect on their confidence heading to Stamford Bridge.

We have already mentioned that they have failed to win at this ground since 1975, and we expect this wait to continue on Tuesday night.