Sky Sports pundit issues score prediction for Middlesbrough’s meeting with Blackpool | OneFootball

Middlesbrough take on Blackpool in the Championship at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.

Boro responded to their derby disappointment at Sunderland with an impressive 2-0 home win over fellow promotion chasers Watford last weekend. In what was a dominant display from the hosts, goals in the first half from Chuba Akpom and Marcus Forss secured all three points, taking advantage of some calamitous defending from the Hornets.

The victory was Boro’s eighth in their last 10 league games and moved them above Slaven Bilic’s side into third in the table, 12 points behind second-placed Sheffield United as their revival under Michael Carrick continues.

Blackpool were beaten 2-1 by Premier League outfit Southampton at St Mary’s in the FA Cup on Saturday in Mick McCarthy’s first game in charge since replacing Michael Appleton last month. Goals in either half from Romain Perraud put the Saints in control and they held on to secure their progression after Charlie Patino halved the deficit.

The Seasiders are without a win in their last 10 league games and currently sit 23rd in the table, three points from safety ahead of the trip to the North East.

Sky Sports pundit David Prutton thinks this game will go with the form book, predicting a comfortable win for Carrick’s men.

“Middlesbrough will be very pleased with how they got back on the horse against Watford last weekend, after such a disappointing performance and result at Sunderland the week before. It is just what Michael Carrick would have wanted,” Prutton said on the Sky Sports website.

“This is a first Championship game for Mick McCarthy. His remit is survival, and survival only. But this is one of the trickiest possible starts he could have asked for. Home win.”

The verdict

Boro are certainly strong favourites for this one.

They were outstanding against the Hornets last time out with arguably one of their best performances under Carrick so far, easily sweeping aside one of their fellow promotion hopefuls.

If they produce a similar display at the weekend, then you do have to fear for a Blackpool side who will likely be short on confidence after their poor recent run.

However, McCarthy will make the Seasiders more resilient and harder to beat, while he has also had a significant amount of time to work with his new squad on the training ground since his appointment.

But given Boro’s current form, it is hard to see past them here.