Middlesbrough v Chelsea predictions: Battling Boro can ensure a tight encounter

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Middlesbrough v Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.

Where to watch

BBC One, 5.15pm Saturday

Best bet

Under 2.5 goals
1pt Evs general

Team news

Middlesbrough
Andraz Sporar and James Lea Siliki (both illness) are available but Riley McGree, Martin Payero, Darnell Fisher and Sammy Amoebi remain sidelined.

Chelsea
Andreas Christensen has joined Ben Chilwell on the sidelines and Reece James (muscle problem) and Callum Hudson-Odoi (Achilles) are doubts.

Match preview

Middlesbrough owner Steve Gibson was incensed by Chelsea's plea to have this weekend's FA Cup quarter-final played behind closed doors and a fired-up Boro side can give the Londoners a stern test at the Riverside.

The Blues travel in good spirits after Wednesday's 2-1 success over Lille which advanced them to the Champions League quarter-finals, but they can expect as tough a contest as they experienced in France and a low-scoring encounter looks on the cards.

Chelsea's task got harder after the statement they put out on Tuesday which asked the FA to instruct the game to be played without spectators.

The Blues eventually withdrew their request, which was made after recognising they would be unable to take a full complement of travelling fans, but they can expect a hot reception from Boro fans, who will be eager to see their side claim another notable scalp.

Chris Wilder's side got the better of Manchester United and Tottenham in the fourth and fifth rounds and will be looking to draw Chelsea into a tight, physical encounter as they seek to reach the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2006, when their star-studded squad featured Gareth Southgate, Mark Viduka and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

Boro have cut their cloth in recent times due to spending 12 of the last 13 seasons outside the Premier League, but they have been on the up under Wilder, who was appointed last November.

As well as masterminding the remarkable successes over United and Spurs, Wilder has lifted Boro from 14th to seventh in the Championship and it would not be a massive surprise to see his team walk out at Wembley for this season's playoff final.

Wilder has been backed by Gibson, who sanctioned January loan deals for Premier League strikers Aaron Connolly and Folarin Balogun, but has also got a better tune out of some of the players, who had been struggling for consistency under his predecessor Neil Warnock.

Chelsea will be prepared for a difficult game but Thomas Tuchel has the advantage of a strong squad and has the option of considering more prominent roles for Timo Werner, Romelu Lukaku and Hakim Ziyech, who were left out of the midweek starting line-up.

However, with the international break approaching, there is unlikely to be a repeat of the fifth-round selection policy when Tuchel made ten changes for the 3-2 success at Luton.

Midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek and fringe defender Malang Sarr were deployed in the back three at Kenilworth Road, but it should be a more recognisable Blues defence on Teesside and that could contribute to a low-scoring outcome.

Key stat

Three of Middlesbrough's last four home matches against Chelsea have featured no more than two goals

Inside info

Middlesbrough

Penalty taker Paddy McNair
Free-kick wizard Paddy McNair
Set-piece aerial threat Matt Crooks
Card magnet Matt Crooks

Chelsea

Penalty taker Kai Havertz/Jorginho/Hakim Ziyech
Free-kick wizardMason Mount
Set-piece aerial threatAntonio Rudiger
Card magnetMarcos Alonso

Not got a bet365 account? Bet £10 & get £50 in free bets

Open account offer. Minimum deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as bet credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Minimum odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude bet credits stake. Time limits/T&Cs apply. 18+ begambleaware.org

CLAIM OFFER HERE

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