S.P.Read Esq: Middlesbrough v Derby

Our daily columnist and pundit S.P. Read Esq. looks ahead to the Championship match at 12.15pm on Saturday between MIDDLESBROUGH v DERBY and finds the best opportunities available on Star Spreads, the home of sports spread betting.

Change is as good as a rest, so they say – I’m taking a rare departure to the Championship on Saturday for the first live game of the weekend- Middlesbrough v Derby at the Riverside (SKY 12.15pm).

It’s very much a top of the table clash with Boro (4th) taking on the leaders Derby. There’s only two points between them and it’s a chance for Middlesbrough to take the lead in the table, even though it might only be temporary and subject to results later in the afternoon.

And that’s just what I think will happen as I feel Derby’s fragile away form may haunt them again. As our head to head stats show Boro have won 4 and drawn 1 of their last five home fixtures against Derby.

Middlesbrough v Derby County
Championship
12.15pm LIVE on SKY

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Maximum 10 matches)
Apr 2014 Championship Middlesbro 1-0 Derby
Dec 2013 Championship Derby 2-1 Middlesbro
Jan 2013 Championship Derby 3-1 Middlesbro
Oct 2012 Championship Middlesbro 2-2 Derby
Apr 2012 Championship Derby 0-1 Middlesbro
Oct 2011 Championship Middlesbro 2-0 Derby
Mar 2011 Championship Middlesbro 2-1 Derby
Sep 2010 Championship Derby 3-1 Middlesbro
Mar 2010 Championship Derby 2-2 Middlesbro
Oct 2009 Championship Middlesbro 2-0 Derby

Boro skipper Jonathan Woodgate is expected to return for this key match after a hamstring injury as is his Derby counterpart Richard Keogh.

The Boro come into this on the back of a particularly impressive 5-1 defeat of Millwall at the Den last Saturday (they were 4-0 up at HT).

The only setback for the north-east side going into this game is that head coach Aitor Karanka will have to watch from the stands after he was handed a one game touchline ban from the FA having allegedly pushed fourth official David Coote after a controversial late equaliser in their game against Blackburn last month.

I fancy Middlesbrough to come out on top in this and am backing them on the Star Spreads supremacy market at 0.45.

CLICK FOR MIDDLESBROUGH v DERBY MARKETS ON STAR SPREADS

RECOMMENDED BETS (scale 1-100 points)

BUY MIDDLESBROUGH / DERBY for 50 points at around 0.45 goals with Star Spreads

(DECEMBER RETURN: -1541 points)

• Any spread prices quoted are indicative and as always prices are subject to fluctuation.
• Please note the opinion, views and forecasts above are of the author and not of Star Spreads.