And with those fates at stake, betting apps have been offering competitive odds to punters who wish to invest in the season’s outcomes. Significant attention has been on the Ipswich Town vs Middlesbrough match, which is set to take place on 17th October. We look at the stats in a bid to figure out who might have the upper hand.

When is the Match?

Ipswich and Middlesbrough meet for the first time this season at the Riverside Stadium on Friday 17th October.

What Are The Current Standings?

Middlesbrough have had a strong start to the season. As things stand on 29th September, the Teessiders have won five and drawn two of their seven games, and with 17 points are sitting top of the table, a good four points ahead of Coventry and Stoke City.

Town, on the other hand, have not had quite such a positive start. The Blues are in 12th place with two wins, three draws and one defeat. Notably though, the two wins have come in their last two matches as Kieran McKenna’s side start to show their expected promotion-challenging form. A win against Middlesbrough would be a further step in the right direction.

Which Team Has the Upper Hand?

Current standings give us one part of the picture, but what do the history books tell us?

2023/24. At Portman Road, the teams drew 1-1 but at the Riverside, the Blues won 2-0. 2018/19. Middlesbrough won 2-0 both home and away as Town were relegated.

2017/18. The teams drew 2-2 at Portman Road, Middlesbrough having won 2-0 on their own turf.

Based on those stats, we can see that Middlesbrough have won in three of the last six Championship matches between the teams with Town victorious only once with two ending in draws.

What’s perhaps more interesting is that home advantage hasn’t had a particular impact as both teams have lost on their own turf. And that unpredictability that makes the upcoming match all the more intriguing.

What Do The Stats Say?

Since previous matches show that the match could go in any direction, our best bet lies in analysing the teams’ current form and various aspects of their performances.

     1. Tactical Cohesion

For a team to do well, two things it needs are a good manager who can guide the players on the best tactics and a team that has mastered the coach’s playing style. There is also always room for adaptability, which is where the
coach must step in to make up for unexpected changes, such as injuries and substitutions.

As much as Ipswich have a top manager, Kieran McKenna, who favours a balanced and flexible approach, Middlesbrough perhaps have the upper hand on this one at present. Under new manager Rob Edwards, Boro remain undefeated in seven games, while Ipswich’s much-changed squad has taken a few weeks to gel with the Blues yet to win on the road.

     2. The Player Quality.

A manager may be excellent, but for their style to bear fruit, they need a team that can bring their vision to life. But what makes a good team? In addition to the players’ individual attributes, squad depth comes into the picture.

Both teams have impressive squads. However, Ipswich have more options in attack with the likes of Jaden Philogene, George Hirst and Jack Clarke, as well as ex-Boro man Chuba Akpom.

Ipswich currently have an almost fully fit squad, but Middlesbrough have lost starting goalkeeper Seny Dieng to injury, a significant blow.

     3. The Offensive and Defensive Efficiency.

Town have managed to score 11 goals in six matches, averaging 1.83 goals per game compared to Middlesbrough’s 1.71. However, the Teessiders have a much higher goal difference as it stands, having conceded only five goals in seven matches, averaging 0.71 goals per game. Town have averaged one per match.

Boro have recorded three clean sheets compared to the Blues’ one, the Teessiders having the upper hand overall.

     4. Team Morale.

We cannot talk about team form without touching on the psychological factors that play a role in teams’ self-belief.

Middlesbrough have remained undefeated in their last seven matches and this is sure to make them more confident as they have already experienced several wins. Naturally, they will want to keep this going. On top of that, they will be playing at home in front of their fans.

But Town, relegated from the Premier League, will see a win away against early season form side Boro as a significant statement as they aim to push up the table into the top 10 and, they hope, beyond.