Middlesbrough v Chelsea: FA Cup Bet Builder tips and predictions

Free Bet Builder tips for Middlesbrough v Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.

Where to watch

BBC One, 5.15pm Saturday

Bet Builder

Under 2.5 goals

Folarin Balogun to have one or more shots on target

Matt Crooks to be booked

16-1 with Paddy Power

Middlesbrough v Chelsea Bet Builder preview

Under 2.5 goals

Middlesbrough achieved stunning FA Cup successes over Manchester United and Tottenham by keeping things tight and they are unlikely to allow themselves to be picked apart by Chelsea at the Riverside on Saturday.

Chelsea are the third top scorers in the Premier League, but they needed an 89th minute Kai Havertz goal to sink Newcastle last Sunday and are likely to be drawn into a low-scoring contest on Teesside.

Folarin Balogun to have one or more shots on target

Strikers are often confidence players and Arsenal loanee Folarin Balogun should have plenty of belief after his superb goal for Middlesbrough in Tuesday's 2-0 success at Birmingham.

Balogun looks as big a threat as anyone to the Chelsea defence and he should at least register a shot on target.

Matt Crooks to be booked

Matt Crooks was Middlesbrough's hero in the FA Cup fourth round tie at Old Trafford thanks to his second half equaliser, but his tally of 12 yellow cards betters his total of eight goals in the Championship this season, and he looks a strong candidate to enter referee Paul Tierney's notebook.

Chelsea are likely to dominate possession and efforts to break up visiting attacks are sure to involve Crooks, who is never shy of putting himself about.

Not got a Paddy Power account? Sign up and get up to £50 in free sports bets

Place a single £10 Sportsbook bet and get money back as a free bet if it loses. There are x5 Free Bets available. Max refund per qualifying bet is £10. Only deposits made via Credit/Debit Card will be eligible for the promotion. Paddy's Rewards Club: Get a £10 free bet when you place 5x bets of £10+. T&Cs apply 18+ begambleaware.org

MORE FREE BETS

Sign up to emails from Racing Post Sport and get all the latest news and tips

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport