Tuesday Premiership

Spot on as the Boro’ notched a 1-0 win.

A massive night in the Premier League for those fighting to stay in the top flight as six of the sides in the relegation scrap are in action. Sunderland host Birmingham, Bolton entertain Fulham and Wigan travel to the Riverside to take on Middlesbrough. The standard isn’t likely to be great, but drama is sure to be high and I think that Gareth Southgate’s side are the ones to be with.

Boro’ enjoyed a confidence boosting win at Mansfield in the FA Cup on Saturday and prior to that had pummelled Blackburn at Ewood Park. They were desperately unlucky not to claim all three points that day and a win on Tuesday would haul them clear of those below them. Prior to that point at Ewood Park they held Liverpool to a 1-1 draw and also beat Portsmouth just before the turn of the year.

I think Southgate has his side playing quite well but they do come up against a team that also appear to have turned the corner, to some extent. Steve Bruce has done very well since his return to the JJB and, although he probably hasn’t picked up as many points as he’d have liked, the performances have certainly been improving.

The worry I have for the Latics however is their inability to get anything on their travels and that puts an awful lot of pressure on their home games. I think that could ultimately be their undoing and I don’t expect them to return with anything on Tuesday.

The 2.00 available about a Boro’ win looks great value and when you consider that they have enjoyed well over 24 hours extra rest than their opponents following their respective FA Cup games on the weekend then it appears even better.