Stoke vs Middlesbrough Prediction: Boro in deep trouble

Has anybody seen Michael Carrick’s free-flowing Middlesbrough side? The play-off contenders have fallen apart in recent weeks and five defeats in a row has seen them drop into the bottom half of the table. It’s been a staggering drop-off in form and you feel Carrick’s time could be up if they continue to lose games over the next couple of weeks. 

He will hope to arrest the slide as they travel to a Stoke City outfit that could still get dragged into relegation danger if they don’t start picking up points. These two meet at 19:45, live on Sky Sports+ and below you can find my Stoke vs Middlesbrough predictions. 

Team News

Stoke are still sweating on the fitness of influential midfielder Wouter Burger after he missed the trip to Norwich at the weekend. He needed a scan on the knee injury he picked up against Swansea and is yet to be confirmed as available for this Tuesday night clash. Mark Robins will be hoping he will be back fit as they desperately missed him at Carrow Road. 

On a positive note Sam Gallagher came off the bench at Norwich to get his first minutes since January 4 and will play some part here, while Ben Wilmot was also back in the squad and could return to the defence. Million Manhoef was out for two months but got a few minutes in East Anglia and will help Robins out with his availability, while Ben Pearson made his second start in 11 months and Jordan Thompson also returned from a hernia. 

Football Odds

These returning players should give Stoke a boost as Robins has as of yet been unable to name his strongest XI on paper. Manhoef will surely be included in that, while Bosun Lawal is also working his way back to fitness with the under-21s. 

For Boro, Mark Travers will continue in goal having put in a solid display at Bristol City despite defeat. Ryan Giles should return to the squad following illness last week, but Neto Borges should keep his place at left-back, alongside Rav van den Berg, Dael Fry and Anfernee Dijksteel in the back four. 

Finn Azaz looks likely to start on the bench again as Kelechi Iheanacho and Tommy Conway continue their partnership up front. Ben Doak remains a major absentee, along with Riley McGree, Darragh Lenihan and Jonny Howson. 

Stoke vs Middlesbrough Odds

Stoke are priced at 11/5 to win this game, which feels long when you consider they are at home - however they have only picked up 22 points from 16 fixtures at the Bet365 this term. Middlesbrough are the favourites at 6/5, which gives them an implied win probability of 45% heading into the game. A draw can be backed at 12/5, but that wouldn’t do either side much good at this stage. 

Over 2.5 goals is 5/6 at this moment in time, and that has come in during 48% of Boro matches so far this campaign. BTTS is 4/6, and Tommy Conway is the favourite to open the scoring having hit the net against his former club at the weekend. 

Stoke City to win @ 2/1

I’m going to back the home side to come out on top here as I think Stoke offer good value. I have waxed lyrical about Boro all season and praised their underlying numbers and style of play. But the loss of Emmanuel Latte Lath in January has massively affected them and the likes of Morgan Whittaker and Iheanacho have not improved the starting XI. 

Carrick finds himself in a really sticky position now and five defeats in a row will have sapped any confidence out of their legs. There’s a lot of players I like in this squad, but Carrick can’t get the best out of them right now, and I worry for him if they lose again tonight. Meanwhile, Stoke are hit and miss and probably need three or four wins to take themselves away from relegation danger. Robins needs more time to get things right at the Bet365, but I think he will be boosted by the returning players I’ve already touched upon. They can grind out a tight victory here. 

Lewis Baker to score anytime @ 4/1

One thing Robins has got right in charge of Stoke is the way he has treated Lewis Baker. He recalled him from his loan at Blackburn during his first week at the club and has relied on him fairly heavily since his return. An all-action midfielder, he was thrust into a more attacking role at Norwich and duly delivered with two goals. 

Having also scored against Swansea in the previous week, I think he is nailed on to start here and Robins may consider giving him license to roam given he has now scored four goals in eight Stoke appearances this term. We are getting a big price on a man in form to find the net, up against a Boro side that can’t keep a clean sheet for love nor money. 

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