Middlesbrough are fighting for automatic promotion but face a tricky trip to the Potteries in trying to cement their position in the race for the Premier League.

Mark Robins’ side are well in the hunt for a play-off place, the problem is that half of the division is too, and they need their home form to come through to find themselves inside the top six when the music stops.

Check out these Stoke v Middlesbrough Betting Stats for further insight, as well as our Football Tips and Best Betting Offers.

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📈 Stoke v Middlesbrough Form & Tactics

Stoke come into this match in good form. Including the FA Cup victory over Coventry, Mark Robins’ men have three wins and a draw in their last four matches. The important thing in that run as well is that they haven’t conceded a goal in that time, this is despite conceding over 4 xG in those matches. This points to good goalkeeping, and potentially some wayward finishing from their opponents.

The bet365 Stadium is not usually the land of plenty when it comes to goals and chances, though. Looking into the data, we can see that there have been exactly two goals a game on average, and this is fairly matched by the xG totals of 1.17 xG for vs 0.99 xG against, a narrow +0.18 differential for Stoke, but showing that most matches here are decided on fine margins.

Middlesbrough turned around their frankly ridiculous variance issues in front of goal by scoring seven goals in their last two league matches. This brought to an end a run of four matches without scoring, but demonstrates that Hellberg plays a fairly attacking game, which didn’t fall in their favour when allowing West Brom back into the game in their away match on Sky on Friday night. The Delano Burgzorg winner in the 90th minute produced an incredible moment for the Boro faithful, but in reality, should never have been required.

The win against West Brom did bring to an end the run that Hellberg was on of winning the xG battle in all of his league away games, though. Indeed, Boro only created 0.8 xG on the night, which suggests that they did back off the pedal somewhat after going two goals ahead. The impressive thing that perhaps isn’t expected from Hell-ball is that Boro have actually restricted their hosts to under 1 xG in four of their five away games under him.

📔 Stoke v Middlesbrough Formation & Team News

There are several absentees from the Stoke squad, which leaves them quite thin on the ground. Divin Mubama is expected to be out for a long time, given the severity of his injury sustained on Saturday; the likelihood is that he won’t take to the field for Stoke again. There is no Sam Gallagher still, and no Robert Bozenik either. This will force Mark Robins to make some interesting decisions as to how he shapes up.

Usually, Stoke will play in a 4-2-3-1 shape, with a double pivot, and this may well remain the same, but with a stand-in up front.

Middlesbrough have been generally playing a 4-2-2-2 shape, but have their own issues up front with David Strelec currently missing through injury and Tommy Conway seeming to be well out of form. However, the midfield is very strong, with Aidan Morris and Hayden Hackney laying claim to be the best central midfield duo in the competition. Callum Brittain is still out for now as well, meaning that Alan Browne is filling in at right-back.

🔮 Football Predictions at Andy's Bet Club

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* All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing.