Middlesbrough vs Southampton Prediction: The hosts are sitting at the bottom of the table

Middlesbrough will welcome Southampton at Riverside Stadium in Gameweek 8 of the English Championship. The hosts are sitting at the bottom of the table. Who will come out on top after 90 minutes?

During the early months of 2023, Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough team earned a reputation as one of the top contenders in the Championship, with Carrick himself being linked to Premier League job opportunities. However, there has been a significant shift in dynamics for the North-East club, as they have failed to win any of their last 12 Championship matches since April 24. Despite having new players brought in during the summer, Middlesbrough are already five points behind the 20th position in the league standings. Their recent 1-1 draw against Sheffield Wednesday can be viewed as a small step forward, although Sheffield Wednesday is also struggling to secure their first league victory of the 2023-24 season. Regardless, it is clear that Carrick and the fans are desperate for maximum points in order to revive hopes of a promotion bid that may already seem unlikely.

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Despite the fact that there is an 11-place difference between the two teams in the table, Southampton is the team that lacks confidence going into this match due to a significant decline in their performance. After starting strong with 10 points out of a possible 12 following their relegation from the Premier League, the Saints have now suffered three consecutive defeats. These losses came against Sunderland, Leicester City, and Ipswich Town, all of whom have aspirations of promotion. The way in which Southampton lost the first two matches is concerning to head coach Russell Martin. They are allowing their opponents to easily play without the ball, rendering their possession meaningless. It will be interesting to see if Martin is willing to sacrifice some of their signature playing style in order to turn their fortunes around. Southampton is making their second trip to the North-East in three weeks, with their previous visit resulting in a 5-0 defeat against Sunderland.

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It is uncertain who will emerge victorious from this match, as both teams have been performing poorly. However, the increasing vulnerability of Southampton provides an opportunity for Boro to secure their first win of the season. Despite feeling like underdogs, they have a chance to turnaround their form in this encounter. Expect both teams to score in the game.