Middlesbrough vs Derby

22/3- Middlesbrough are placed at the 13^th position and are a mere 6 points above the relegation zone, they are in a safe zone but looking at their upcoming matches they would rather want to increase this 6 point gap this weekend when they play hosts to the bottom of the table Derby as their next two matches are against Chelsea and Manchester United. Middlesbrough have not been the best team in the tournament but while playing at home they have been a force to reckon with and against a team like Derby they would surely be looking at a full three points, anything lower that that would be an under achievement and a big disappointment as well. While the home team has registered just two defeats in the last 5 matches their performance cannot be said to be bad but the problem is that they have won just one match while the other two matches have been draws while the visiting team has drawn just 1 of its last 5 matches while the other 4 have been losses.

Middlesbrough have this golden opportunity to score 3 points and move further away from the relegation zone and also keep up their confidence before taking on tougher opponents. The home crowd and support would be a definite advantage for Middlesbrough but they would be looking at players like Downing to score and make immense of this easy match. Also Middlesbrough would be happy for a fact that their opponents have no away victories this season.

Derby on the other hand would be happy even if they can manage to take a point from this away tie as they have struggled to get points from matches this season and have been by far the weakest team in the premiership.

Prediction: 2-0, Middlesbrough win