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The English Championship is one of the most competitive leagues in European football, and the 2025/26 campaign will be no different. After three games, the strongest starters have eased into the major places, leaving their rivals playing catch-up. Middlesbrough boast a 100% record and enter level with Stoke City on nine points, but everyone at the Riverside knows it’s a long season.
Sheffield United were a popular pick in pre-season, with followers of the second-tier expecting the Blades to battle for promotion. Things haven’t gone to plan in the opening exchanges, and the visitors arrive stuck on the bottom rung of the ladder. Will they upset the odds to score a first win of the season? We’ll find out on Saturday from 12:30 BST.
Flashscore’s Frank Monkhouse presents the most important stats and trends, highlights the form of both clubs, and walks you through the head-to-head scores. He has three predictions, aimed at landing you a winner and a strong profit on Saturday.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United tips
Middlesbrough win @ 23/20 (bet365)
Under 2.5 goals @ 4/5 (bet365)
Middlesbrough win to nil @ 11/4 (bet365)
Odds courtesy of bet365. Correct at the time of publication and subject to change.
Back Boro to continue their winning start
Middlesbrough enter Saturday’s game with confidence following three wins in their previous three Championship outings. The locals set the pace for this campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Swansea City at the Riverside, achieved thanks to a strike from Dael Fry. It was a case of better late than never, as Fry notched his first goal in more than three years, giving him and his employers a perfect start.
In their second outing, Boro continued their winning ways with a 3-0 win at The Den against Millwall. They silenced the home crowd and battered their opponents from pillar to post, easing to victory and an eye-catching cushion. Few teams will leave Millwall with such a comfortable win, but it could’ve been more for a Rob Edwards team that likes to dominate possession and has the class to turn chances into goals.
We last saw Middlesbrough in action when making it three wins on the bounce with a 2-1 at Carrow Road last week. Norwich City conceded two goals in quick succession near the end of the first half, before Jacob Wright was sent off on the hour for a challenge on Aidan Morris. I’m happy to stick with the form team here and advise adding Middlesbrough to your Saturday afternoon accumulators.
Tip: Middlesbrough win @ 23/20 (bet365)
Bet explanation: If Middlesbrough beats Sheffield United, your bet wins.
Blades lack cutting-edge
Sheffield United have played three and lost three, scoring just one goal and conceding six. They are joined at the bottom of the table by another winless team in Oxford United, with Queens Park Rangers, Sheffield Wednesday, Derby and Wrexham on a point. The visitors are only one win behind Blackburn Rovers in 16th, meaning no one will be reaching for the panic button just yet. But the manner in which the Blades have been losing is cause for concern.
Ruben Selles is already feeling the pressure at Bramall Lane after watching Sheffield United lose 4-1 to Bristol City, exit the League Cup in the first round at the hands of Birmingham City, and slip to 1-0 league defeats to Swansea and Millwall. Two goals scored and eight conceded in those four league and cup outings do little to drum up confidence in an away win at attractive odds. Yes, the division is competitive, but I don’t expect to see a flood of support for Sheff Utd to get off the mark.
Having failed to score in their previous two league games, Sheff Utd also drew a blank when last visiting the Riverside. Boro won 1-0 on that occasion, with Emmanuel Latte Lath getting the goal that mattered. With that in mind, I’m picking under 2.5 goals in this renewal at 4/5 - another great pick for your multiples. That wager would’ve returned a profit in Sheff Utd’s last two and in Boro’s narrow win over Swansea.
Tip: Under 2.5 goals @ 4/5 (bet365)
Bet explanation: You need this game to produce fewer than three goals from both teams combined.
Middlesbrough win to nil
Bet number three at the Riverside Stadium comes with the best odds attached, as we pick Middlesbrough to beat Sheffield United without conceding a goal. You’ll find that wager in the win-to-nil market on the bet365 app and site by tapping on the specials option. The final score and who gets the goals aren’t important here. All you need is for Boro to win the game and keep a clean sheet.
Middlesbrough to win to nil was the correct approach when they last hosted the Blades. It was also a smart play when the home team beat Swansea 1-0 and Millwall 3-0. The only team to score past Boro so far was Norwich, but that was a consolation goal when the beaten side were 2-0 behind and playing with ten men. Let’s remember Sheff Utd has scored only one goal in three games, and we have ourselves a strong bet at a nice price.
Bet on Middlesbrough to win to nil and hope Saturday afternoon’s renewal falls into line with the trends. The odds offered make the wager good enough to back as a single, and you can keep your stakes low while targeting a return worth winning. I was surprised to see the locals available at such favourable odds, given their recent form.
Tip: Middlesbrough win to nil @ 11/4 (bet365)
Bet explanation: Your bet wins if Boro takes all three points and keeps a clean sheet.
Middlesbrough vs Sheff Utd odds
Middlesbrough win @ 6/5 (bet365)
The odds, correct at the time of publication, are subject to change.
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The odds, correct at the time of publication, are subject to change.