Norwich vs Middlesbrough Prediction: Boro can bag statement away win

On Sunday afternoon (15:00, Sky Sports Football), Norwich City host Middlesbrough in what should be a fantastic Championship encounter. Both of these sides sit on 17 points and are just outside the top six, with ambitions of promotion at the forefront of their minds right now. 

There will be an awful lot of attacking talent on show at Carrow Road on Sunday, and that is the focus of my selections in this preview. Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones ended their 27-year spell on the Norwich board and Jack Wilshere is in the home dugout as a coach so there’s a lot of change in East Anglia. Read on for my Norwich vs Middlesbrough predictions featuring team news and betting tips.

Team News

Angus Gunn and Marcelino Nunez have both been ruled out for the next couple of weeks by Johannes Hoff Thorup so George Long will start in goal and Emiliano Marcondes is likely to retain his place in midfield. They are two big injuries for Norwich but Jacob Sorensen is back available for selection. 

Meanwhile, Christian Fassnacht should return to training next week, so Thorup’s options are somewhat limited. Ante Crnac, Borja Sainz and Josh Sargent will start as the front three, while Callum Doyle is expected to continue at left-back, with either Jack Stacey or Kellen Fisher at right-back. 

Michael Carrick took charge of his 100th game at Boro in midweek, in the same week he celebrated two years at the Riverside. Emmanuel Latte Lath scored in midweek off the bench and should be reinstated to the starting XI ahead of Tommy Conway. 

Finn Azaz should play again in the number 10 role but it remains to be seen whether Carrick will stick with the wide duo of Riley McGree and Ben Doak, with Micah Hamilton and Delano Burgzorg both unused substitutes in midweek. A massive boost is the return of captain Jonny Howson, who could start this one having come off the bench on Wednesday night. 

Norwich vs Middlesbrough Odds

Norwich are priced at 9/5 to win this one, with Boro available at 7/5. That gives the away side an implied win probability of 41%, while a draw can be backed at 5/2. Over 2.5 goals is 4/6, BTTS is 4/7 and Emmanuel Latte Lath is the favourite to open the scoring at 11/2. 

Middlesbrough to win and BTTS @ 3/1

This should be an incredible game of football, and it is one I am incredibly excited about. In midweek, for the first time this season, Boro finally won a game in which they enjoyed the majority of possession. They’ve struggled to take their chances this term, but after over 40 attempts at goal from the start of the Bristol City match through the Sheffield United match, Boro finally ended their drought as Latte Lath scored to earn a 1-0 win. 

I think they will now start to take more chances and start to climb the table further. No side in the Championship has created a higher xG per 90 than Boro which makes them the most threatening team in the league. Meanwhile, Norwich have already proven their attacking quality with Sainz and Sargent two of the top attackers in the second tier. I think we will get a belting game at Carrow Road on Sunday, but I’ll back the away side to edge it. 

Emmanuel Latte Lath and Borja Sainz to score @ 15/2

I was keen to back Latte Lath to win the Golden Boot before the season started, and I still think he could go close. He should have far more than the two goals he has to his name in 2024/25, but having found the winner last time out will be full of confidence. Also - Boro are continuing to create chances at will - so I’m more than happy to back the Ivorian to find the net. 

Then we come to the sensational Sainz. He is now the top scorer in the league having scored eight goals in 11 games and found the net again vs Preston in midweek. With Sargent willing to do the hard yards, Sainz is now the main goalscorer in this Norwich side, and he’s become lethal in front of goal. I’m happy to back the double here at 15/2. 

Acca Flex: Place a pre-match 5+ leg Football accumulator and get a CASH bonus up to 100% if all of your selections win or your money back as CASH if one leg lets you down.

You can read all our latest Football Betting Tips at our dedicated Betfred Insights content hub.