Championship Betting: Back Boro to reach top spot

McDonald to score first?

High-flying Middlesbrough entertain Sheffield Wednesday in Friday night's televised game in the knowledge that a win will take them top of the Championship, writes Andy Tongue... 

Middlesbrough vs Sheffield Wednesday
Friday November 9
Kick-off 19:45
LIVE on Sky Sports 1

Middlesbrough

With five wins and one draw from their last six games, Boro are the league's in-form side and Tony Mowbray looks to have assembled a team that will have a big say in the promotion race come next May. As you might expect, the former tough-as-teak central defender assembled a side that were solid at the back last season but they didn't score enough goals and missed out on the play-offs. This campaign he's added attacking flair which has made them one of the league's best all-round sides. Lukas Jutkiewicz, Scott McDonald and Marvin Emnes have all been among the goals, meaning opposition defences can't just worry about the one threat, while combative midfielder Nicky Bailey is another who is back to his best form and always a threat in and around the box.

Sheffield Wednesday

Wednesday, last seen in Friday night action against Leeds in a match that will be remembered for all the wrong reasons, are struggling for consistency following promotion from League One. After successive wins against two of the bottom three - Ipswich and Peterborough- they were second-best at home to Blackpool on Tuesday night. This suggests that while they should be able to steer clear of a protracted relegation battle they don't currently have the class to go head-to-head with the division's better sides. The win at Portman Road was their only victory on their travels and they've been beaten four times so it would be a surprise to see them turn the formbook on its head. The Owls have ex-Cardiff and QPR striker Jay Bothroyd leading their attack alongside Chris O'Grady but both have been out-scored so far this season by midfielder Ross Barkley.

Match Odds
The lure of top spot should be all Boro need to emphasise the gulf in class between the two sides and I'm surprised they can be backed as big as 1.9520/21. Their home form has been strong this season (five wins, one draw and just one defeat) and, even given the unpredictability of English football's second tier, it's difficult to envisage anything other than three points for the Teesiders, especially as they know it would mean they go top.

First Goalscorer/To Score

In-form Aussie striker Scott McDonald has notched four goals in the last four games, including the winner at Sunderland in the Capital One Cup, and is worth backing to open the scoring. 

Wednesday have plenty of aerial threats and their route to goal may well come from a set-piece, which makes their Spanish defender Miguel Angel Llera of interest to us. The 6'4 tall centre-half, who has three goals this season, is an obvious threat from corners but, perhaps rather surprisingly, he also has the sweetest of left-foots and is a danger from free-kicks up to 35 yards out from goal. The big man's worth a small play in the score anytime market.

Best Bet
Back Middlesbrough to win 

Recommended Bets
Back Scott McDonald as first goalscorer 
Back Miguel Angel Llera to score anytime