Middlesbrough have won six home league games to nil this season
Watford have lost their last three games without scoring
Recommended Bet: Middlesbrough to win to nil
Middlesbrough are likely to have to settle for a place in the play-offs as they bid to end their nine-year stint in the Championship, but they can make it back-to-back home wins by seeing off out-of-sorts Watford at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.
Boro's chances of claiming the second automatic promotion place receded when they went on a disappointing seven-match winless run, but they managed to end that with a 1-0 home success over Sheffield Wednesday last time out and they are now a comfortable six points ahead of seventh-placed Hull with two matches left and a significant goal-difference advantage.
Watford have had another difficult season, using three different managers plus a caretaker, and current boss Ed Still has seen his team lose four of their last five games to fall to 15th in the table.
The latest Middlesbrough vs Watford odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Team news
With an extended season now looking likely for Middlesbrough, manager Kim Hellberg could look to keep his side fresh with Leo Castledine, Alex Bangura, Jeremy Sarmiento, Kaly Sene and Sam Silvera all in contention for starting places.
Hayden Hackney, Riley McGree and Alfie Jones are likely to be unavailable due to injuries.
Hector Kyprianou and Rocco Vata are still out for Watford but Pierre Ekwah is available again after paternity leave.
Jeremy Ngakia and Marc Bola could come into the starting line-up, with James Abankwah among those making way. Imran Louza and Kwadwo Baah are also in contention.
The latest Middlesbrough vs Watford odds are available on LiveScore Bet
The stats
Seven of Middlesbrough's last eight home games have gone under 2.5 goals.
Watford have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last eight away games, while they have won just once in 10 on the road in the league, losing each of the last four.
The Hornets have scored only two goals in their last six matches.
Watford have won the last three meetings between the teams.
The latest Middlesbrough vs Watford odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
A game against rock-bottom Sheffield Wednesday was enough for Middlesbrough to break out of their slump as an early Morgan Whittaker goal saw off the Owls, and a fixture with struggling Watford could lead to a similar result.
The Hornets have been floundering in recent weeks, losing by multiple goals without even scoring in their last three games against Oxford, Sheffield United and West Brom.
Middlesbrough are significantly higher in the standings than any of those bottom-half teams and despite their recent struggles, they should be able to overcome the Hertfordshire side too.
Watford were winning for the fourth successive home game when they beat Boro 3-0 in November, but they have struggled on the road for most of the campaign, triumphing in only four of their 22 away league games and losing each of the last four.
Tuesday's 3-0 loss at West Brom suggested Watford are not likely to turn things around in their last two games against promotion-chasing Boro and new champions Coventry, so a home win to nil looks a solid option.
Back Middlesbrough to win to nil at 33/20 with LiveScore Bet
The latest Middlesbrough vs Watford odds are available on LiveScore Bet
