Middlesbrough v Nottingham Forest Betting Tips [26 December 2021]

Middlesbrough play host to Nottingham Forest in a match that could have a significant impact on the playoff picture come the end of the season. The sides are separated by just a pont, with Forest seventh on 34 points and Middlesbrough ninth on 33, and both find themselves just outside of the playoff picture. Both sides have been in good form and each are coming off wins - the hosts with a statement 1-0 win against second place Bournemouth in a match where they created plenty of chances and fully deserved the win, while the visitors are coming off a 2-1 win against Hull and have now notched three straight victories. Middlesbrough have won three and drawn one over the last four matches - their current longest stretch without defeat so far this season. They will be hoping to build upon this run after they have struggled with inconsistency to start the season but will face a stiff challenge in a Forest team that hasn’t lost in nine games.

Middlesbrough might count themselves a bit unfortunate to only be in ninth in the table as their advanced metrics point to a team that has been creating well but is being let down by their finishing. Forest, on the other hand, are experiencing the opposite effect with their results tending to flatter their actual performances. An eye-popping trend that has been occurring throughout Middlesbrough’s matches is their tendency to start matches wonderfully then falter in the second half. Boro have a first half record of 12 wins, 10 draws and one defeat with this mark improving to seven wins, five draws and zero defeats when playing at home. Compare that to their second half performances in which they have won six, drawn seven and lost 10 matches - scoring only nine goals while conceding 20.  Conversely, Forest have been much better in the second half compared to the first. The Reds have accumulated 28 points in the first half table as opposed to 38 in the second half table.