- Stoke have won 4 of their last 5 matches and won their last 2 games.
- Middlesbrough have won 2, drawn 2 and lost 1 of their last 5 (2 draws in a row).
- Middlesbrough have drawn 2 of their 4 Championship 2026/2027 away games and have a 3-1-1 record against Stoke in their last 5 meetings.
Middlesbrough to make it a close game
Stoke have made a solid start to their Championship 2026/2027 campaign and sit 7th in the table with 13 points from their opening 8 games, but Middlesbrough sit above them in 3rd place with 15 points from the same 8 games, and they will likely be the sharper of the two outfits on Tuesday.
The Potters have won 4 of their last 5, including a 2-1 win at Watford and a 2-1 home win over Sheffield United, to really get the momentum going, but Boro will provide a serious test for Mark Robins' men. Boro are in a bit of a mixed form run, having won 4-3 at home to Norwich City before drawing 2-2 with Millwall, and 2-2 again at Birmingham City, so they're creating more than enough to win games, but aren't always getting the job done.
Style clash at Bet365
Robins has certainly got Stoke playing a more structured, possession-based style than we've seen from them in recent years, as they've utilised their compact build-up to force the opposition wide and transitioned quickly and effectively with their wide players and wingers. It should be a fascinating chess match of wide vs central control at the Bet365 Stadium, but it's likely to be a bit of a standoff.
Boro boss Kim Hellberg has his men playing a similarly compact game but with more emphasis on possession and short passing. It will be interesting to see how Hellberg sets up to try and stifle the Potters' wide play. Boro have won 1, drawn 2 and lost 1 of their 4 away games in this Championship campaign, averaging 1.25 goals per game scored and conceded.
Back Boro for a double chance
Stoke have won 3 and lost 1 of their 4 home games in the Championship 2026/2027, scoring 2.00 goals per game and conceding 0.75, so they've been a tough nut to crack in Staffordshire. Boro have won 3 and lost 1 of the last 5 meetings between the clubs and won the last clash, away from home in the Championship 2025/2026, 2-1. Middlesbrough are at 47/50 here with Stoke at 64/25 and the draw 13/5.
Boro double chance is the best play here as the visitors look the more likely to have their way in this one, although Stoke will give them a real go. Boro won't want to waste opportunities in this fixture as Stoke have failed to beat them in their last 2 home games. Will Lankshear leads the Boro goalscoring charts with 6 goals in 8 games and is a real threat in the middle, while Ethan Galbraith is Stoke's main threat with 3 goals in 8 Championship 2026/2027 games, so the home side can strike through the middle at times.
