Oxford vs Middlesbrough Prediction and Betting Tips | 23rd November, 2024

Oxford United and Middlesbrough lock horns in a matchday 16 clash in the EFL Championship on Saturday. The two sides are perched in opposite halves of the points table.

Des Buckingham's Oxford are coming off a 1-0 loss at Watford just before the international break. Vakoun Issouf Bayo scored the only goal of the game nine minutes after the break. Following their third defeat in four games, the U's are 18th in the standings, with 17 points from 15 games, winning four.

Meanwhile, Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough are fresh off a rousing 5-1 home win over Luton Town before the international break. Delano Burgzorg and Emmanuel Lath put Boro two goals to the good before the break.

Finn Izzak Azaz joined the party before Burgzorg completed his brace as Carrick's side led 4-0 after 54 minutes. Jordan Clark pulled one back for Luton 13 minutes from time, but Azaz completed his brace in the 87th minute to restore Boro's four-goal advantage.

The win, coming following a 4-1 victory at QPR, sees Carrick's side up to seventh in the points table, with 24 points from 15 games, winning seven.

On that note, here's a look at the head-to-head stats and key numbers, match prediction, and betting tips for the Oxford-Middlesbrough Championship skirmish at the Kassam Stadium.

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Oxford vs Middlesbrough head-to-head stats and key numbers

• In 27 meetings across competitions, Middlesbrough lead Oxford 16-5, including a 3-2 FA Cup home win in February 2017 in their last clash.
• Boro are unbeaten in nine games in the fixture, winning seven, including the last four.
• Oxford have just one win in their last five home games across competitions, losing one.
• Boro have two wins and as many losses in their last five road outings across competitions.
• Form guide (last five games across competitions, most recent result first): Oxford: L-W-L-L-D; Middlesbrough: W-W-L-D-W

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Oxford vs Middlesbrough prediction

The two sides have had markedly different campaigns. Newly promoted Oxford have just one win in 10 league games since beating Stoke City 1-0 at home in September, losing four.

Boro, meanwhile, have five wins in the same period - winning their last two outings - losing four times. Moreover, they hold a head-to-head advantage ahead of their first Championship meeting in 27 years, which Boro won 4-1 away.

Carrick's side are also in good recent form, winning their last two league games, scoring nine times and conceding twice, so we expect them to take a comfortable win.

Prediction: Oxford 1-3 Middlesbrough

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Oxford vs Middlesbrough betting tips

Tip-1: Middlesbrough

Tip-2: Boro to keep a clean sheet: No (They have had just one clean sheet in seven games.)

Tip-3: Over 2.5 goals: Yes (Eight of their last 10 meetings across competitions have had at least three goals.)