Middlesbrough vs Norwich City predictions: Back Boro to boost play-off hopes
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- Middlesbrough start the weekend three points outside the Championship play-off zone with two games to go
- Norwich City have appointed Jack Wilshere as interim manager after sacking Johannes Hoff Thorup this week
- Recommended bet: Middlesbrough to win and both teams to score
Middlesbrough's hopes of making the Championship play-offs have been dented by a run of three defeats in four games and they cannot afford another slip-up this weekend.
Boro's 2-1 loss at Sheffield Wednesday last time out left them three points off the top six with two matches remaining so Saturday's home fixture against Norwich City is a must-win clash.
The Canaries have had a tumultuous end to the campaign, sacking manager Johannes Hoff Thorup after Monday's 3-1 defeat at Millwall – another of the clubs hoping to sneak into the play-offs.
Team news
Middlesbrough are likely to be missing the injured Luke Ayling, Alex Bangura, Seny Dieng, Neto Borges, Sol Brynn and Liverpool loanee Ben Doak.
Defender Darragh Lenihan returned to the squad for Monday's defeat at Hillsborough.
Norwich City goalkeeper Angus Gunn is set to miss out along with Lewis Dobbin, Gabriel Forsyth, Lucien Mahovo and Ben Chrisene.
Ante Crnac (ankle) will be assessed and Matej Jurasek is also a doubt.
The stats
Four of Middlesbrough's last six defeats were by a 1-0 scoreline
Boro have lost three of their last four league matches
Only two of Middlesbrough's 11 home wins this season featured over 3.5 goals
Norwich City have lost and both teams have scored in six of their last eight league matches
Both teams have scored in 10 of the Canaries' last 12 games
Norwich have been trailing at half-time and full-time in five of their last seven matches
Prediction
Narrow defeats to Leeds, Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday have taken Middlesbrough's Championship play-off fate out of their hands but Michael Carrick's men should keep the pressure on the teams above them.
A home victory over Norwich City would take Boro's battle for a top-six finish down to the final day although they needed a late penalty to edge past bottom club Plymouth in their last home game.
Both teams scored inside the first 17 minutes before Tommy Conway's spot-kick sealed a 2-1 win for Middlesbrough, who beat QPR and Oxford by the same scoreline in March.
Backing Boro to win and both teams to score is a tempting price when they host leaky visitors Norwich.
The Canaries sacked manager Thorup after a 5-3 home defeat to Portsmouth and a 3-1 reverse at Millwall on Monday.
The loss at The Den was the fifth time in seven games that Norwich had lost with both teams scoring and interim boss Jack Wilshere may struggle to solve their defensive issues on the training ground this week.
Middlesbrough cannot afford to drop points so the Canaries should get chances on the break but their defence is unlikely to stand firm against their motivated hosts.
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