EFL expert delivers score prediction for Middlesbrough v Huddersfield

Two teams with promotion aspirations this season will square off at lunchtime on Easter Monday as Middlesbrough host Huddersfield Town at the Riverside Stadium.

The Terriers will make the trip north knowing that a win will see them close the gap to Bournemouth in second position to just one point, but the Cherries will then have three games in-hand which makes a top two finish for Carlos Corberan’s side look very difficult.

As for Boro, they are currently outside the top six after picking up just one point in their last three Championship games, however Chris Wilder has a game in-hand himself on his former club Sheffield United, who occupy the final play-off spot currently.

Quiz: What club do these 25 players from the Middlesbrough 2016/17 squad play for now?

It’s an incredibly important fixture for both sides but there’s every chance that when it’s all said and done that the spoils will be shared, and that perhaps won’t be enough for the home sides.

Right down the middle is where Sky Sports presenter and EFL pundit David Prutton has gone, with the former Nottingham Forest and Leeds midfielder believing a 2-2 draw is on the cards.

“Things have fallen a little bit flat for Middlesbrough of late, with Good Friday’s goalless draw with Bournemouth meaning they have now taken just a point from their last three games and not scored since the 4-0 win over Peterborough on April 2,” Prutton said on his Sky Sports predictions podcast.

“They are still so close to breaking back into the top six, but they cannot afford for this slump to go on for too long.

“Huddersfield’s slim chances of finishing in the automatic promotion places are still very much alive, even though second-placed Bournemouth have a four-point advantage and two games in hand, so they will pose a stern threat.

“I think this will be a cracker, but the points will be shared.”

The Verdict

This is perhaps a more important game for Middlesbrough, who could see the pack close in on them if they fall to a defeat here.

Chris Wilder’s side could have been in a more comfortable position going into this if they’d just picked up a few more points in the last couple of weeks, but that hasn’t been the case.

Likewise it’s probably going to be a tough ask for Huddersfield to get into the top two now thanks to the comfort blanket that Bournemouth have in the form of games in-hand, but they can only keep on winning and see what happens.

If Boro get fully firing though then they will be tough to stop – they haven’t been like that for a number of games though so it’s a coin flip to see if they show up.