One of several key Championship clashes on Good Friday sees bottom side Plymouth Argyle travel to the Riverside Stadium, aiming to continue their unlikely survival pursuit against Play-Off chasing Middlesbrough.
EFL Championship
Our Three Predictions For Middlesbrough vs Plymouth Argyle:
- First Prediction For Middlesbrough vs Plymouth Argyle: Match Result – Middlesbrough – 9/25
- Second Prediction For Middlesbrough vs Plymouth Argyle: Over 2.5 Goals – 1/2
- Third Prediction For Middlesbrough vs Plymouth Argyle: Half-Time Result – Middlesbrough – 17/20
First Prediction For Middlesbrough vs Plymouth Argyle: Match Result – Middlesbrough – 9/25
Middlesbrough will be desperate for a positive result on Good Friday that could see them back in the top six. Boro sit eleventh in the home standings, winning ten of their 21 encounters at the Riverside. Though they were defeated by Leeds in their last Riverside outing, three consecutive wins had them back firing. They should be even more confident of a fourth home victory in five, as Plymouth have the worst away record in the Championship. While Miron Muslić’s side won for the first time all season at Portsmouth last month, they were the final side in the second tier to pick up an away victory this term. A few recent draws have improved their points tally, standing at nine, but any chances of reaching double figures on Friday appear highly unlikely.
Second Prediction For Middlesbrough vs Plymouth Argyle: Over 2.5 Goals – 1/2
Both of Boro’s recent defeats have been low-scoring, continuing a wider pattern in their results. In their last eight, only two of their games have seen three goals, with the rest under that figure. With 29 goals for and 22 against in the North East, Michael Carrick’s outfit are average in both boxes compared to the rest of the division. In six of Plymouth’s last seven games, there have been at least three goals. No side have conceded more times away from home than Plymouth (46) and scored fewer (8). While the reverse game ended 3-3 for the second time in three meetings, the same number of goals should not be expected this time around.
Third Prediction For Middlesbrough vs Plymouth Argyle: Half-Time Result – Middlesbrough – 17/20
The Pilgrims may have given themselves half a chance of Championship survival in recent weeks, but based on the first half table, their relegation would almost have been confirmed. Plymouth are seven points worse off in the opening 45 minutes than across the full ninety, sitting eleven points adrift of safety. Even in their latest success at the weekend, the Devon side trailed Sheffield United at the interval thanks to a late first-half goal. Boro are relatively consistent over both halves, moving up a place, but their points tally has fallen by two. Nevertheless, Middlesbrough can expect a first-half lead on Friday afternoon.
Best Odds For Middlesbrough vs Plymouth Argyle
| Bookmaker | Middlesbrough | Draw | Plymouth Argyle |
| MyriadPlay | 9/25 | 4/1 | 6/1 |
| Gentleman Jim | 4/11 | 4/1 | 13/2 |
| Betarno | 1/3 | 4/1 | 6/1 |
The table above shows the latest odds from leading football betting websites.
Full Preview Of The Game: Last Results And Head-To-Head:
Middlesbrough remain in the race for a Play-Off place, but their chances took a hit on Saturday afternoon. A loss in the capital to Millwall saw the Lions move level on points with Boro, enhancing their prospects of a top-six finish. Fortunately, their hopes remain alive as fifth and sixth-placed Bristol City and Coventry both dropped points. The Robins were also in London, held by QPR, while the Sky Blues drew at Hull on Monday evening following a late Tigers equaliser. West Brom’s narrow win over Watford saw them join two sides on 60 points, meaning that four points separate five sides ahead of the Easter weekend.
While Boro have appeared to have turned their season around, these two latest defeats haven’t helped their cause. Last Tuesday, Leeds were the visitors to the Riverside, claiming all three points, but they had two goals chalked off, which replays showed were onside for the Championship’s leaders. Prior to that, Middlesbrough had won three out of four games. Their win against Blackburn moved them into the top six ahead of the weekend’s action. March victories at home against Oxford, QPR and Derby helped turn their season on its head following four straight February defeats that appeared to have derailed their campaign.
Plymouth looked dead and buried a few weeks ago, following a dismal March. After their FA Cup exploits ended against Manchester City, their league form took a hit. Consecutive defeats without scoring against Hull and Sheffield Wednesday were followed by a first away win of the campaign at Portsmouth. Expectations were heightened when Derby County were the visitors to Home Park, with the Rams similarly poor on their travels. But John Eustace’s men won a thriller, as Marcus Harness scored two minutes from time after the Pilgrims had recovered from a two-goal deficit to draw level.
Following the international break, the Pilgrims returned from Watford with a point, though at this point in the campaign, wins are required. That is how they started April, as a Ryan Hardie double inside the opening half an hour was enough for three points against Norwich. But the highs of that opening period against the Canaries were quickly forgotten at Swansea the following midweek, as the Swans eased to a three-goal lead by the 35th minute. But incredibly, Miron Muslić’s outfit recorded one of their finest victories of his tenure on Saturday. Trailing promotion-chasing Sheffield United with 80 minutes of the clock, goals from Hardie and Muhamed Tijani in the final ten minutes turned the game around, giving them a shot at survival once more.
There will be two fixtures that these sides both have a keen eye on. For the Pilgrims, Derby vs Luton will be of huge interest in the lunchtime kick-off, with the Rams just outside the relegation zone and the Hatters level on points with Plymouth. Meanwhile, Coventry face West Brom while the Teessiders are in action. Middlesbrough are hoping for a Baggies win that, coupled with a Boro victory, would see them back in the top six by Friday teatime.
Boro are at Sheffield Wednesday on Easter Monday, hosting Norwich before a final day trip to Coventry, where both sides could be needing a result to confirm their top six places. Plymouth face the Sky Blues in their next fixture, travelling to Preston on the penultimate weekend of the season before leaders Leeds are the final visitors to Home Park this term. Both need a win this Friday, which history suggests that Middlesbrough are more likely to achieve, winning fifteen compared to the Pilgrims’ ten victories over the last 71 years.
Confrontation |
Where To Watch Middlesbrough vs Plymouth Argyle:
Where can I watch the game, either on TV or in person?
- Location: Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough
- Date: 18th April, 2025
- TV Channel: Sky Sports+
Probable Lineups For Middlesbrough vs Plymouth Argyle:
Predicted Middlesbrough Lineup:
- Lineup: Travers, Iling-Junior, van den Berg, Howson, Dijksteel, Hackney, Morris, Azaz, Burgzorg, Whittaker, Conway
- Suspended/Injured: Borges, Edmundson, Brynn, Lenihan, Bangura, Ayling, McGree, Dieng, Doak
- Coach: Michael Carrick
Predicted Plymouth Argyle Lineup:
- Lineup: Hazard, Pleguezuelo, Pálsson, Szűcs, Edwards, Houghton, Randell, Mumba, Tijani, Hardie, Bundu
- Suspended/Injured: Taloverov, Sorinola, Katić, Galloway
- Coach: Miron Muslić
