Middlesbrough vs Swansea predictions: Boro to maintain play-off charge

Tom Hill

Spotlight

Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough side still have hopes of finishing in the play-offs this season

- Middlesbrough are unbeaten in six games in the Championship
- Swansea have won one of their last five matches
- Recommended bet: Back Middlesbrough to win and Under 2.5 goals

Middlesbrough have found some form with just a few weeks remaining in the Championship season, and they will fancy their chances of beating Swansea at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.

Michael Carrick's side are in ninth, six points behind sixth-placed Norwich City, although Coventry and Preston in between the two have played one game less.

While Boro at least have something to play for, Swansea are languishing in 15th, 17 points off the play-offs, and seven points above the relegation zone.

Team news

Carrick's squad has been decimated by injuries for most of the season, with Tom Smith and Darragh Lenihan both sidelined for the rest of the campaign with Achilles injuries.

Striker Marcus Forss is likely to miss the game with a hamstring problem, while Riley McGree, Rav van den Berg, Hayden Hackney, Dael Fry, Josh Coburn and Alex Bangura are all hoping to return before the end of the month.

Norwich loanee Przemyslaw Placheta is on the sidelines for Swansea due to a hamstring injury, while a muscle problem has ruled out keep Harrison Ashby.

Mykola Kukharevych is hoping to shake off a knock, while Josh Ginnelly (muscle), Kyle Naughton (hamstring) and Joe Allen (toe) are set to return at the end of the month from their respective injuries.

The stats

Luke Williams' Swansea have are nearer to the relegation zone than the play-offs, winning just one of their last five games

Middlesbrough are unbeaten in their last six games in the Championship, winning four of those matches. They have kept four clean sheets in that run, while they have beaten Swansea in their last four encounters.

Boro have not lost any of their last five games against the Welsh outfit, and it may not be long before Swansea start to plan for next season under coach Luke Williams.

The Swans have won one of their last five games in the Championship, while they are winless in three on the road.

The latest Middlesbrough vs Swansea odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Prediction

It is getting to that stage of the season when some teams switch off due to their league position, and Swansea may not be far from that.

The Swans have struggled to string results together, and having not won more than two games on the bounce since October, their play-off hopes have long since disappeared.

Luke WIlliams' side were clearly up for their rivalry clash with Cardiff, but that 2-0 success has been followed by a 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday and a 1-0 home defeat to QPR so they are hard to support for a surprise win.

Middlesbrough's hunger to win should be greater than that of the visitors due to the play-offs still being a possibility, although a high-scoring battle is unlikely.

Boro have kept clean sheets in four of their last five games, while Swansea have only scored more than one goal on the road in three of their last 10.

Back Middlesbrough to win and Under 2.5 goals with LiveScore Bet at 10/3