Sports Blog 15/02/2016: Championship Preview – Leeds vs Middlesbrough, Monday 15th February 2016

Whilst the unlikely, and undoubtedly thrilling, Premier League title race is hogging all the attention, the Championship is doing its best to throw up an unpredictable promotion battle of its own.

The latest twist, in a season full of turns, could come tonight, as Middlesbrough look to return to the top of the table against a limp Leeds at 7.45pm on Sky Sports 1.

It’s a testament to the erratic nature of the Championship’s current iteration that Middlesbrough can be without a win in 4 games but remain within 2 points of 1st place Hull with 2 games in hand (one of which being tonight’s trip to Elland Road). A 9 game unbeaten run in the league between November 20th and January 12th (comprised of 8 wins and 1 draw) came to an end at the Ashton Gate Stadium, Boro narrowly slipping to a 1-0 loss against Bristol City thanks to a 96th minute goal from Wes Burns. Aitor Karanka’s men followed this up with a similarly disheartening 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest, before succumbing to back-to-back 1-1 draws against Blackburn and Milton Keynes Dons (Boro only managing a point in the latter thanks to a last gasp goal from Jordan Rhodes).



Rhodes, who goes the game at a Super Mega PGM of 26-31, may be in line for his first Middlesbrough start since joining from Blackburn in January on Monday evening. The 26 year old managed 10 Championship goals for the Rovers before making the switch on deadline day, that total growing to 11 after his blushes-saving strike against MK Dons last weekend. He will face competition from Christian Stuani however, who, at a Super Mega PGM of 14-18, is Boro’s top scorer this season with 10 goals all competitions.

Whilst Boro are aiming to re-enter the Premier League once again it is hard to see what Leeds are playing for this season. Languishing in 16th place, the Whites are 15 points away from a play-off place and 10 above the relegation zone. In other words, Championship-wise at least, things are looking rather dull from a Leeds’ fan’s perspective. To make things worse their form since the New Year has been fairly uninspiring, with a win against Bristol, draws against MK Dons and Brentford and losses against Ipswich, Sheffield Wednesday and, most recently, Nottingham Forest. Things have, admittedly, been better in the FA Cup, a 2-0 3rd round win over Rotherham and a 2-1 4th round victory over Bolton (both sides, mind you, almost locked-on for Championship relegation) setting up a 5th round visit from Watford.

One of Leeds’ biggest issues this season has been in front of goal, with only 4 sides in the Championship scoring less than the Whites’ 29 (with 11th place Preston matching that tally). Things arguably won’t improve on that front any time soon, with top scorer Chris Wood still out with a hamstring problem. That leaves Micro Antenucci (on 5 goals) and Souleymane Doukara (on 4 goals) under extra pressure, heading into Monday night’s game at Super Mega PGMs of 18-22 and 14-18 respectively.

Despite their miserable form in the last 4 weeks Boro have far more to play for than their opponents this Monday, leading Spreadex to offer a Middlesbrough/Leeds (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 0.35-0.55 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.1-2.3.

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