S.P.Read Esq: Brentford v Middlesbrough
Our daily columnist and pundit S.P. Read Esq. looks ahead to the Championship play-off semi-final first leg match tonight between BRENTFORD v MIDDLESBROUGH and finds the best opportunities available on Star Spreads, the home of sports spread betting.
The Championship play-off final is billed as the most valuable match in English football and it’s easy to see why with the riches of Premier League football just 90 minutes away.
Tonight, Brentford and Middlesbrough start their journey to Wembley with the first leg of their semi-final at Griffin Park.
If there’s any justice then Middlesbrough should win this over two legs. They beat Brentford twice in the regular season by an aggregate of 5-0 and finished seven points clear of them in the table.
But the play-offs can be cruel and often favour the team who have just sneaked into the quartet rather than the team that just missed out on automatic promotion spot as was the case with Boro. Less pressure and expectation I guess.
Cleary a tight nervous game can also be expected and generally there are few goals in these all-important matches.
If any side deserve to win through from the play-offs you can argue it’s Brentford who have lost in their seven previous play-offs campaigns which have included three play-off finals. They haven’t been in the top flight of English football since 1947 whereas Middlesbrough are bidding to get back to the top level for the first time since they were relegated in 2009.
The Bees boss Mark Warburton will leave the club at the end of this season irrespective of what happens in the play-off finals because of a disagreement over recruitment policy.
He said: “There’s no point saying it’s like any other game. We’ll relish it. These are very significant games for the club and we need to look back with no regrets. I’d hate any player or staff member to look back and say ‘I could have done something better’. It is about balance, focus and concentration over the two legs.”
Brentford v Middlesbrough
Championship Play-Off Semi-Final 1st Leg
7.45pm SKY
HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Maximum 10 matches)
Jan 2015 Championship Brentford 0-1 Middlesbro
Sep 2014 Championship Middlesbro 4-0 Brentford
Oct 2002 League Cup Brentford 1-4 Middlesbro
Apr 1987 Div 3 (old) Middlesbro 2-0 Brentford
Dec 1986 Div 3 (old) Brentford 0-1 Middlesbro
Jan 1964 FA Cup Brentford 2-1 Middlesbro
Jan 1949 FA Cup Brentford 3-2 Middlesbro
Jan 1948 FA Cup Brentford 1-2 Middlesbro
Apr 1947 Div 1 (old) Brentford 0-0 Middlesbro
Dec 1946 Div 1 (old) Middlesbro 2-0 Brentford
I’m a buyer of bookings at 46 tonight.
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