Middlesbrough and Bradford City are both looking to win the third round to advance to the next round of the EFL Cup. Middlesbrough are coming into this game from a win against Bolton, where they showed their dominance. As for Bradford, they escape the second round due to a win against Wrexham through penalties. Moreover, this is already the eighth clash between the two sides, where it was Middlesbrough having an advantage. They were able to win two matches, while Bradford is only with one win, while the remaining matches ended in draw. Additionally, this is the first time that these two teams meet since their last meeting in May 2001. Due to this, they might now have unfamiliarity against each other. This meeting is on September 27, 2023, at 2:45 AM (GMT+8).
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough secured a 2-1 victory over Southampton in the EFL Championship, thanks to Adam Armstrong’s 17th-minute goal. However, the Saints equalized just before halftime, and Jonny Howson turned the match around in the second half. With only five points, Middlesbrough is currently in 22nd position in the Championship table, with Rotherham and Sheffield Wednesday worse off. The North Yorkshire club has not kept a clean sheet in any of their 10 official games this season, and they aim to reach the fourth round of the cup for the first time since the 2018-19 season. Middlesbrough, currently two divisions higher than Bradford City, is expected to pose a significant challenge due to their lack of success this season, despite their higher trade volume.
There are alterations expected for Middlesbrough, where Tom Glover could come in for Seny Dieng. Fortunately, they do not have fresh injuries coming into this match. However, Anfernee Dijksteel, and Matt Clarke remains unavailable due to their injury concerns.
Bradford City
Bradford City returned to winning ways after three consecutive draws in Football League Two with a 4-1 victory over Newport County. Andy Cook scored a hat-trick and Rayhaan Tulloch scored a goal. With 13 points from nine games, Bradford is down in 11th position but has reached their peak. Their last win will give them confidence to face Middlesbrough in their cup encounter. Their only win over Middlesbrough was in the 1999-2000 season. Despite this, Bradford City has unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions. Moreover, the Bantams demonstrated promising road performance, defeating Newport County 4-1 at Rodney Parade, despite a 3-0 lead. However, they face a more challenging task on Tuesday night.
For Bradford to stand a chance of advancing to the next round, they need to be at their best. Considering their current results, it is unlikely that they will make some changes in their squad.
Prediction:
Draw
Odds: -0.88
Ready to play?
You may place your bets for the EFL Cup match between Middlesbrough and Bradford City at Nova88, Asia’s largest and most trusted Online Casino Malaysia. Join and play now!
