Burnley have had a tough start on their return to the Championship and the 10-man Clarets lost 4-1 at Norwich last weekend.
New manager Nicky Hayen will be desperate for a positive response in Wednesday's home fixture against Middlesbrough.
But Burnley will be missing suspended midfielder Josh Laurent and Hayen has an injury-hit squad for the clash with Boro, who lost to Hull in last season's play-off final.
Burnley v Middlesbrough Tips Summary
Best Bet - Middlesbrough @ 7/5
Alternative Bet - Under 4.5 cards @ 8/13
Bet Builder - Both teams to score, Anel Ahmedhodzic to be booked & Will Lankshear to score @ 10/1
Burnley v Middlesbrough Prediction
Best Bet - Middlesbrough @ 7/5
Burnley were outclassed in the Premier League last season and they have had a difficult start to their 2026/27 Championship promotion campaign.
They came from 2-0 down to draw with title favourites West Ham in their opening game, when striker Zian Flemming scored two late goals.
However, the Dutchman will not be around for Wednesday's home fixture against Middlesbrough, having signed a four-year deal with Ipswich on deadline day.
Burnley's failure to get their business done early in the summer has hampered new boss Nicky Hayen, who is also dealing with an injury crisis.
They could be missing as many as eight players for the game against Boro, including influential skipper Josh Cullen.
The Clarets should not be written off as long-term promotion contenders but they are worth opposing this week.
They conceded nine goals in their first three league matches and were held to 90-minute draws in EFL Cup ties with Notts County and Bradford.
Middlesbrough beat Wrexham and Doncaster in their first two EFL Cup games and won two of their first three Championship matches.
Both of those victories came at home, against Lincoln and West Brom, but Boro had 71 per cent of possession in their 2-1 defeat at Blackburn and can see off a depleted Burnley side.
Alternative Bet: Under 4.5 cards @ 8/13
Rival managers Nicky Hayen and Kim Hellberg both like their teams to play possession football and both sides have decent disciplinary records this season.
Hellberg's Boro have picked up only one yellow card, for striker Will Lankshear, in their first three Championship matches.
And Hayen's Burnley have amassed just six bookings in five games in all competitions - two of them for Josh Laurent in last weekend's defeat at Norwich.
Under 4.5 cards looks a solid bet on Wednesday, especially as only one player was booked on Boro's most recent visit to Turf Moor in December 2024.
Burnley v Middlesbrough Bet Builder Tip
Both teams to score
Anel Ahmedhodzic to be booked
Will Lankshear to score
Pays 10/1
Both teams to score was a winning bet in Middlesbrough's last four games and Burnley's early-season league matches have been full of goals.
The Clarets drew 2-2 with West Ham in their Championship opener before losing 3-1 at West Brom and 4-1 at Norwich.
Uncompromising Burnley centre-back Anel Ahmedhodzic is a leading card candidate as he faces a talented Boro attacking unit.
Ahmedhodzic picked up eight yellow cards and one red for Feyenoord last season and was booked 23 times in two Championship campaigns at Sheffield United.
Will Lankshear scored 11 times for relegated Oxford in last season's Championship and he is already looking like a smart signing for Middlesbrough.
The Tottenham graduate has notched four goals in three league appearances for Boro, also finding the net against Wrexham and Doncaster in the EFL Cup.
Learn more about how Bet Builders work in our Bet Builder guide.
Key Match Stats
Burnley's first three Championship matches this season all produced over 3.5 goals
The Clarets have won only two of their last 36 league and cup games
Five of Burnley's last seven home fixtures ended as draws
Both teams have scored in Middlesbrough's last four matches in all competitions
Boro striker Will Lankshear has scored six goals in five games this term
Middlesbrough have received only one yellow card in their first three Championship matches
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
