Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
The final Premier League action of Week 14 takes us to The Riverside Stadium where Middlesbrough play host to Hull. With results going against both clubs on Saturday this game takes on extra importance, it’s not quite a six pointer but the result will have a large bearing on the bottom half dozen teams in the table.
Middlesbrough find themselves currently 16th in the table with Hull now slipping down to 19th after Sunderland’s win against Leicester on Saturday. Home side Middlesbrough have only suffered 1 defeat in their last 5 matches but there have been too many draws in that run of results for their liking.
They had to make do with a draw last weekend away at Leicester. It would have been all three points had Marten De Roon’s clumsy tackle on Wes Morgan in injury time not given The Foxes the second spot kick of the game, a harsh lesson for ‘Boro as they were on top for large periods of the game.
That game saw Alvaro Negredo score his first goal for the club since August and the hope is that now can find a run of form that can help Middlesbrough get some daylight between themselves and the bottom three. With just three points between Crystal Palace in 13th and Hull in 19th it really is all to play for this Evening.
Hull come into this game off the back of just one defeat in their last three and a win in the EFL Cup Quarter Finals. Last Saturday saw them draw at home to West Brom in what was a spirited performance but like Middlesbrough they need more wins and more importantly goals.
With Abel Hernandez and Will Keane out injured their attacking woes have now worsened with the fact that Dieumerci Mbokani begins a three match ban after getting sent off in Hull’s EFL Cup against Newcastle last Wednesday night.
The reliance may have to be on Robert Snodgrass to possibly play further forward. The Scottish international has already scored four times this season and Hull will hope he can find the net tonight to lead his side to a win that would pull them out of the bottom three.
Both teams have a goal average of less than 1 per game so far this season so don’t expect many goals Tonight. I’ll go with Middlesbrough just edging this one as Hull have a real lack of firepower. It might not be a pretty spectacle but I reckon it will be 1-0 to The ‘Boro. Home win for me.
