- Team form: Middlesbrough are 5th in the Championship with 72 points from 42 games - comfortably in the playoff spots.
- League status: Sheffield Wednesday have -3 points from 43 matches, sitting 24th in the table.
An important matchup for both sides
Middlesbrough are in poor form ahead of this midweek matchup against Sheffield Wednesday, going winless in five (D3, L2), but this matchup is much more important for the hosts, who are in the promotion playoff places, than it is for the visitors, who are in the relegation zone and are playing for pride alone.
The last time these sides met was just five months ago, with Boro edging their way to a 1-0 win away from home. Since then, the Owls have won just once in 21 away league matches and Middlesbrough’s form has fallen recently.
Nevertheless, they are the heavy favorites to win this one at 1.11, which is understandable given their home record and the quality of players they have available, even if they are in a slump. Wednesday’s recent form mirrors that of Boro, with the Owls winless in their last five, drawing three and losing twice.
Wednesday are woefully short
Recent form and away struggles
The visitors have been winless in their last five in all competitions, drawing three and losing two, and they’ve been winless in their last three on the road, drawing once and losing twice. Their away form is a big concern for fans, as they have won just once away from home in the Championship all season, drawing five and losing 15 matches.
Manager and tactics
In Henrik Pedersen, Wednesday have a very experienced manager who will know how to get his players to keep their shape and intensity at the right moments. Their preferred system is a flexible 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 system, which allows them to press when necessary, but they are generally compact and prefer to control games. However, the players they have are simply not good enough to pose a sustained attacking threat.
Boro have the tools to win
Middlesbrough are more flexible, employing wing-backs in some systems and allowing them more freedom in wide areas. Kim Hellberg appears to have instilled a sense of identity back into the side since taking over and if his players can return to the high-energy style that defined Boro in the early stages of the season, they could overwhelm a more pragmatic Wednesday outfit, who are simply not comfortable taking risks on the counter.
Boro should win this match, but I think they have enough momentum to break this poor run of form and both teams have been so poor recently that the home record must be taken into account. Sheffield Wednesday score just 0.67 per away game on average in the Championship, conceding 1.90. With Boro conceding just 17 in 21 home games, I’m going for a Boro win with a -1 handicap.
- The hosts have enough quality to push through, with Morgan Whittaker their main goal threat with 11 Championship goals in 36 appearances this term.
- The quality of their creative midfielders could make the difference in this one, with Sheffield Wednesday relying on the experience of their midfielders to keep shape and control away games.
- Charlie McNeill leads the line for Wednesday, but the youngster has just 4 goals in 36 league appearances and has looked out of his depth on multiple occasions this campaign.
