Eng. Championship
2011-09-17 - Crystal Palace vs Middlesbrough
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football : English Championship
Saturday 17 September 2011 - Kickoff 3pm
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace are trying to build some solid foundations after flirting with relegation to League One over the last few seasons and also having a number of financial issues meaning their best players could not be kept at Selhurst Park. Dougie Freedman has done an excellent job as manager so far, and will look to continue with their bright start to the season.
The Eagles are flying high in 8th place in the Championship as they have accumulated 10 points from the first 18 on offer. Much of their success has come at home where they are 2-1-0 this season having scored 5 goals and conceding just 2.
As well as winning 2 of 3 games at home in the League, Palace have also beaten Crawley Town and Wigan Athletic in the Carling Cup in front of their own fans so they should have plenty of belief in their ability to beat anyone at home. Palace have lost just 2 of their last 23 games in all competitions at Selhurst Park, although both of those cmae in the final 6 weeks of the season.
Freedman rested a few players in the win over Wigan during the week and those are likely to be restored. Alex Marrow and Steffen Iverson could make their first League appearances of the season, although most likely off the bench.
Middlesbrough
It took much of last season for Tony Mowbray to get his ideas across to the Middlesbrough players after he took over from Gordan Strachan, but there were signs they were getting it as the season came to a close. Now, Boro have made a bright start to the new campaign as they bid to return to the top flight.
Middlesbrough are 3rd in the Championship after 6 games having picked up a more than respectable 14 points so far. While they have struggled to break teams down at the Riverside Stadium, Boro have won all 3 away games they have played, scoring 6 goals and only conceding the 1.
The away wins have been impressive too, coming at Leeds United, Barnsley and Burnley as well as a Carling Cup win at Peterborough and Walsall. Middlesbrough have now won 7 successive away games in all competitions since the end of last season and they have only conceded 1 in their last 6.
The biggest concern for Tony Mowbray is the fitness of Stephen McManus who had to go off injured at Burnley last week.
Head to Head
Crystal Palace have lost just 1 of their last 4 League meetings against Middlesbrough in the last 2 seasons, that coming at the Riverside Stadium last season.
Palace won the last 2 at Selhurst Park against Boro, both wins coming courtesy of 1-0 results.
These two teams will meet again here in the Carling Cup on Tuesday.
Prediction
While I have been impressed with Middlesbrough so far this season, especially Marvin Emnes, I think they are a tad overestimated by the layers in being able to win their 8th consecutive away game in all competitions.
Crystal Palace are one of the toughest teams to beat at Selhurst Park and the players really thrive in the atmosphere created by the home fans. They have shown their toughness here over the last 12 months and it is telling that they have only suffered 2 defeats in 23 games here.
This should be a tough battle, but the prices look far too big on Palace to pull the win and I will have a small interest in them to do so.
The Pick :
Crystal Palace 1-0 Middlesbrough
