Middlesbrough vs Watford predictions: Final-day flourish at the Riverside

- There have been 12 goals scored across Middlesbrough’s last two games
- Watford have seen 30 goals scored across their nine visits to the top 10
- Recommended bet: Over 3.5 goals

Two former Manchester United team-mates meet on the touchline at the Riverside on Saturday as they look to tee up a successful 2024/25 campaign.

Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough are eighth, but six points shy of the top six with one game to go, while Tom Cleverley’s Watford are 14th, six points shy of the top half.

The pair are aiming to sign off on a high note, which could lead to an entertaining finale. 

Team news

Middlesbrough continue to deal with a lengthy injury list, but with no returning players or new absentees, they are likely to remain unchanged from the side which beat Cardiff. 

Cleverley could make changes as he gets to grips with this squad and he is likely to line his charges up in a 3-4-3 system.

The stats

Across the last five Championship finale days,  over 3.5 goals has landed 24 times.

Watford have drawn 2-2 at West Brom 0-0 at Ipswich and lost 3-2 at Southampton in their last three away games.

Boro have scored at least twice in four of their last five at home, while both teams have scored in each of Middlesbrough’s last four matches.

While the Hornets failed to score at each of the top three, they netted twice or more in each of the rest of their visits to the top 10.

Prediction

The final day of the season usually has at least one game which breaks out into a goal-fest and the Championship is no different. Across the last five seasons, there have been 24 final-day games which featured at least four goals.

We could be in for something similar at the Riverside this weekend, as Middlesbrough are fresh from a couple of high-scoring clashes. The hosts won 4-1 at Cardiff last weekend, having been beaten 4-3 at home to Leeds days earlier.

Carrick’s side have gone four games without a clean sheet, but they have scored at least twice in four of their last five at home. With his team looking to sign off on a high note and a promotion push anticipated next term, Boro should start on the front foot here.

That could see Watford dragged into another thrilling contest. While the visitors are not known as a particularly high-scoring side, they have seen 30 goals netted across their visits to the top 10 this season.

The Hornets have scored at least twice in six of those nine away games, firing 16 goals past the teams placed from fourth to 10th.

With Middlesbrough set to throw caution to the wind on the final day, over 3.5 goals appeals in this contest. 

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