- Middlesbrough have won both of their games this season without conceding
- Derby lost 4-2 at Blackburn in their season opener
- Recommended bet: Middlesbrough to win

Middlesbrough have made a fantastic start to the season as they claimed their first opening day win since 2014 with a 1-0 victory over Swansea, before seeing off a rotated Leeds side 3-0 in the EFL Cup. 

Derby’s first game back in the Championship didn’t go to plan as they went down 4-2 at Blackburn. The Rams have since beaten Chesterfield in their own cup fixture and they’ll be looking to pick up their first points of the season as they were strong at home in the third tier last term.  

Team news

Derby forward Jerry Yates serves the final match of a three-game suspension after being sent off in the final round of fixtures for Swansea last term.

Long-term absentee Jake Rooney is unavailable, while Corey Blackett-Taylor is also likely to miss out.

Boro remain without Tommy Smith and Marcus Forss, who are yet to feature this season. 

The stats

Middlesbrough have two wins from as many games, scoring four goals without reply.

Derby have won their last seven competitive home games.

Boro won 4-1 when these sides last met at the Riverside in February 2022.

Middlesbrough picked up 35 points from 23 away games last season, winning 10 of those fixtures. 

Prediction

The season may be in its infancy but the early signs suggest these two teams will be battling it out at opposite ends of the table over the course of the campaign.

Middlesbrough came in eighth last season but they were only four points off the top six and they will feel they have the tools to challenge for promotion, while Derby came up from League One and their priority will be avoiding an instant return to the third tier.

Boro have started the season in good form with two wins across two competitions. Michael Carrick’s men have been strong at the back as they are yet to concede, and they made a bit of a statement in midweek with a 3-0 win at Leeds in the Cup, although the hosts did make a few changes to the team that drew with Portsmouth last weekend.

In contrast, Derby’s 4-2 defeat at Blackburn looks concerning as Rovers will probably be among their drop rivals this term. The Rams were excellent at home last season, winning 15 of their 23 games, and their results at Pride Park will probably define their season. 

It may take Derby some time to adjust to the step up in class and they will struggle against the better sides in the division. Middlesbrough definitely fall into that category as legitimate promotion contenders and they look well placed to secure all three points in the early kick off.

As Boro are yet to concede, backing under 0.5 goals for Derby at 37/20 with LiveScore Bet is an interesting option here but the evens on an away win is the standout bet. 

Back Middlesbrough to win at 21/20 with LiveScore Bet

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