Middlesbrough 2-3 Sunderland

Current streaks

Recent form

Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough's recent form has been inconsistent, with the club currently sitting in 6th position in the Championship. Over their last six matches, Boro have managed two wins, one draw, and three losses, suggesting a struggle for consistency. Their goal-scoring record has been modest, netting just six times in these fixtures, averaging one goal per game. Defensively, they've conceded the same number, maintaining a neutral goal difference. The team has kept two clean sheets during this period, but their inability to score more than once in any of these matches is a potential concern. Interestingly, 67% of their recent games have seen under 2.5 goals, indicating a trend towards tighter, lower-scoring encounters. Middlesbrough's current position in the play-off spots is under threat if they can't string together a more consistent run of results in the near future.

Sunderland

Sunderland have shown impressive form in recent weeks, currently sitting in 4th position in the Championship with 55 points from 29 games. The Black Cats are unbeaten in their last six league matches, demonstrating resilience with three wins and two draws. Their defensive solidity is noteworthy, having kept three clean sheets and conceding only 0.83 goals per game in their last six outings. Sunderland's attack has been consistent, scoring in every match during this period, although they've not been particularly high-scoring with an average of 1.17 goals per game. The team's ability to grind out results is evident, with three of their last six matches ending with a 1-0 scoreline in their favour. Importantly, Sunderland have shown strength at home, remaining unbeaten in their last three matches at the Stadium of Light across all competitions.

Recent home/away form

Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough's recent home form has been a mixed bag, with the Teesside club struggling to find consistent winning form at the Riverside Stadium. Despite their 6th position in the Championship, Boro have managed just two wins in their last six home matches, drawing three and losing one. Their defensive record has been relatively solid, keeping three clean sheets and conceding only 0.83 goals per game on average. However, their attacking output has been somewhat lacklustre, scoring 1.17 goals per game. The standout match in this run was undoubtedly the six-goal thriller against Sheffield Wednesday, which ended in a 3-3 draw. Interestingly, 83% of Middlesbrough's recent home games have seen under 2.5 goals, suggesting a trend towards tighter, lower-scoring affairs at the Riverside.

Sunderland

Sunderland's recent away form has been a mixed bag, with the Black Cats showing resilience but struggling for consistency on the road. In their last six away matches, they have managed two wins, two draws, and two losses, demonstrating a balanced but unpredictable run of results. Notably, Sunderland have been involved in several tight contests, with four of their last six away games seeing fewer than 2.5 goals scored. The team have shown defensive solidity, keeping two clean sheets in this period, but have also found goals hard to come by, scoring just six times across these matches. Their highest-scoring away game came in a thrilling 3-2 victory over Swansea, which stands out as an anomaly in an otherwise low-scoring run. Despite their inconsistent away form, Sunderland have managed to maintain a respectable 4th position in the Championship, suggesting their home performances may be bolstering their league standing.