Bitesize Prediction: Middlesbrough vs Preston – 24/01/26

Competition: Championship

Market: Middlesbrough win

Odds: 2/3 @ Pribet

Two sides who find themselves scrapping it out at the top of the Championship table, Middlesbrough will welcome Preston to the Riverside on Saturday lunchtime.

Starting with the hosts, while Rob Edwards might have left the Riverside for Wolves back in November, the Reds have only continued on a sensational Championship romp. Opening Saturday’s showdown sat in silver medal position and looking to widen their buffer in the automatic promotion chase, Kim Hellberg’s camp will be confident of making another statement this weekend. Last seen mounting a stellar second-half comeback away at Stoke as they snatched a 2-1 victory, Boro have won all of their previous three consecutive Championship appearances by an aggregate score of 9-3 and they have certainly found a recent clinical edge in the final third. Laying down a real marker earlier in the month as they stormed their way to an empathic 4-0 victory against Southampton, Saturday’s hosts will be dreaming of a repeat display here. Likewise, registering 27 points from their 13 Championship showdowns at the Riverside this season, Hellberg’s side hold the fourth-best home tally in the division.

As for the visitors, while Preston might have got the New Year underway with consecutive Championship wins, the Lilywhites have shown some real inconsistencies over recent times. Last seen putting in a nightmare performance as they slumped to a 3-0 drumming at home against Hull, Paul Heckinbottom’s men are now only just clinging to their spot in the play-off places. Watching their FA Cup adventure come to a shock end on January 9th as they suffered a 1-0 loss at home against League One outfit and local rivals Wigan, the former Sheffield United boss has seen his squad lose each of their previous three appearances across all competitions by an aggregate score of 5-0. It should also be noted, along with registering just a pair of wins since the middle of December, Preston have also recorded a quartet of wins from any of their last 15 attempts – a rut that stems all the way back to November 8th.

Bet: Middlesbrough 2/3 to beat Preston in Saturday’s Championship contest @ Pribet