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Bristol City vs Middlesbrough Predictions: Boro can halt losing streak by claiming a point
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Phil Agius
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- Bristol City have drawn three of their last six matches
- Middlesbrough have won only one of their last eight games
- Recommended bet:
Draw

Bristol City and Middlesbrough are both on the outside looking in at the play-off positions after poor recent spells but they will be aiming to kick-start their promotion challenges in Friday night's Championship clash in Bristol.

The home side have picked up four points from their last two games with a home win over Stoke and a 1-1 draw in the latest Severnside derby against Cardiff, but the success against the Potters was one of only two in their last eight matches.

That is still a more successful spell than Boro have been going through, as Michael Carrick's side are on a four-match losing streak, most recently being beaten 1-0 by Watford.

It means they have been beaten in six of their last seven fixtures and have only two wins in their last 12 outings.

That slump in form led to Carrick being given a vote of confidence from the club's owner Steve Gibson this week and they are still only four points off sixth place despite sliding to 11th in the table.

The Robins are one of the sides between Boro and the play-off places, though, and this crucial contest should be keenly contested.

Team news

City defender Ross McCrorie is an injury doubt after going off against Cardiff due to a hamstring injury.

Mark Sykes could lose his spot in the starting line-up after Yu Hirakawa, his half-time replacement in that game, impressed.

Boro's Anfernee Dijksteel made his first appearance after a month out injured against Watford as a sub and could start.

Riley McGree, Jonny Howson, Ben Doak, Alex Bangura, Darragh Lenihan and Sol Brynn are all long-term absentees.

The stats

-  Both teams have scored in nine of the last 11 Championship meetings between the teams

- The Robins have lost only three of their 16 home league matches

- Bristol City have had eight 1-1 draws in the Championship this season

- City's last four league games have finished with under 2.5 goals

- Six of Middlesbrough's 15 away league matches have produced four or more goals

- Boro have avoided defeat in more than half of their away league games

- Middlesbrough have scored in 12 successive away matches

- There have been over 3.5 goals on Boro's last two visits to Ashton Gate

Prediction

Draws have become a common occurrence for Liam Manning's Bristol City
Draws have become a common occurrence for Liam Manning's Bristol City

While Middlesbrough have been underperforming, Bristol City have not exactly been in sizzling form of late either and the draw looks solid value for Friday's match.

City have won only one of their last four games, despite them all being against teams in the bottom nine places in Oxford, Swansea, Stoke and Cardiff. 

While Boro are out of form and lost dangerous forward Emmanuel Latte Lath when he was sold to MLS side Atlanta United last month, they still represent a tough challenge for the hosts.

Middlesbrough put plenty of pressure on Watford in the second half of Saturday's match and a strong finish would have pleased their manager after they conceded late goals in the recent losses to Portsmouth, Preston, Sunderland and Sheffield United.

City themselves were pegged back by a 90th-minute equaliser from lowly Cardiff last time out and they may have to settle for another draw.

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ChampionshipBristol CityMiddlesbrough
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