Burnley v Middlesbrough: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Promotion rivals Burnley and Middlesbrough prepare to meet in a crunch Friday night showdown from Turf Moor with both in decent form.

Second-placed Burnley have won four in a row and not conceded a goal in over a month, while Boro have won four of their last five to nail down a spot in the play-off places.

Burnley v Middlesbrough betting tips and predictions

Burnley to win - 13/10

Former England rivals Scott Parker and Michael Carrick have got their respective sides into a rich vein of form, a streak that Burnley look the likelier to continue when they meet at Turf Moor.

Middlesbrough, as the division's second-top scorers and one of only two sides to have beaten leaders Sheffield United, feel they are more than capable of landing odds of 21/10.

But to do so means breaching Parker's remarkable defensive unit, a Burnley side who have conceded just six goals in 18 matches and have kept clean sheets in 10 of their last 12.

They have won four in a row, all with clean sheets, and are looking as strong as a side should be who were playing Premier League football just a few months back.

Only Leeds fire off more shots per game than Middlesbrough, who have been rewarded with 18 goals in their last five matches.

But Burnley's defence, with keeper James Trafford and centre-backs Conrad Egan-Riley and Maxime Esteve having played together in each of their last 12 matches, look formidably strong and capable of nullifying whatever Tommy Conway, Emmanuel Latte-Lath, Finn Azaz and Boro's other attack-minded aces can throw at them.

Burnley have been rock-solid since the international break with a 1-0 win at Bristol City, a 2-0 triumph over Coventry and a 2-0 win at Stoke.

That they have been involved in four 0-0 draws this season might be a concern for Clarets' fans, especially if the other big dogs at the top of the table keep winning. Those dropped points from drawn games could prove critical if, like last season, clubs are going to be pushing 90 points for automatic promotion.

But when you don't look like conceding that does make Parker confident that one goal can win a game as his side has proved four times already.

Boro are eye-catching and were good enough to win 4-1 at QPR, 6-2 at Oxford and thrash Luton 5-1 - with all these results arriving over the past month. However, throw into that mix a 1-0 home loss to Blackburn and those are the kind of mistakes that will lose a side ground given the calibre of team around them.

Burnley know one goal may well be enough and with odds of 8/11 under 2.5 goals, it's expected their defence will dictate affairs rather than Boro's attack. And if that's the case they look a decent price at 13/10.

Josh Laurent Over 0.5 Shots on Target - 7/4

Josh Laurent has looked outstanding coming in to start Burnley's last two matches, and can be a threat to Middlesbrough from midfield.

Parker had nothing but praise for the former Stoke captain during the 2-0 win over his old club at at the bet365 Stadium last weekend.

Laurent had a shot, an assist, a couple of dribbles and worked tirelessly keeping Stoke at bay while always looking to contribute further forward.

He has only started seven times this season but is now looking for an extended run and the 7/4 he musters just one shot on target looks appealing.

Middlesbrough Over 4.5 Corners - 5/6

There is virtually nothing between Burnley and Middlesbrough when it comes to possession which suggests both clubs will have their moments in what promises to be a tight affair.

The Clarets concede an average of just 1.9 corners per game at Turf Moor but Boro will put that frugalness to the test, with the visitors averaging 5.5 corners per away game.

Shots from distance get deflections and force saves and the visitors ought to be confident they can amass at least five corners, especially if they are forced to chase the game at some point.

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Burnley v Middlesbrough odds

Burnley - 13/10
Draw - 23/10
Middlesbrough - 21/10

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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.