Jordan Hugill can inspire Middlesbrough to success

Sky Bet Championship
Sky Sports Football & Main Event, 5.30pm Saturday

Middlesbrough are fourth in the Sky Bet Championship title betting despite being only two points off the top of the table, but they are more effective than the markets seem to realise and can take another huge step forward by beating Aston Villa at the Riverside.

Tony Pulis's pragmatic style of play can be hard to watch and his team's 22-goal tally is lower than that of 15 other teams in the division.

But Boro have lost just two of 19 league matches and their defence is by far the best in the division.

They have chalked up ten clean sheets and conceded just ten goals, seven fewer than Leeds, who have the second-best rearguard.

Doing the basics right can be especially important in big games and that will be a concern to Villa, who looked far too open when drawing 5-5 at home to Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.

It was a fantastic match largely dominated by Villa, who won the shot count 26 to eight.

But their weaknesses in defence were exposed as centre-backs Axel Tuanzebe and James Chester were unable to cope with the pace and movement of Forest's attack and goalkeeper Orjan Nyland made a major error for the fifth goal, allowing Lewis Grabban's shot to fly past him at the near post.

Nyland's goalkeeping has looked suspect on numerous occasions this season and Villa's defensive problems will need to be sorted out in January if they are to mount a serious promotion challenge.

Offensively, they are as good as any team in the Championship with Jack Grealish pulling the strings and Tammy Abraham (scorer of four goals midweek) and Jonathan Kodjia offering power and pace at the sharp end.

But Boro are the best team in the division at negating an opponent's strengths and are offering more of a threat since getting summer loan signing Jordan Hugill fully fit.

Hugill has netted three goals in his last three games and looks a likely match-winner as he prepares to take on the poorest defence in the top half of the Championship.

Recommendations
Middlesbrough
2pts 6-5 Paddy Power, Sky Bet
J Hugill first scorer
1pt 11-2bet365

Bet on this match at Soccerbase.com

Team news
Middlesbrough
Ryan Shotton (knee) is closing in on full fitness and Mo Besic and Stewart Downing are likely to return after being rested midweek.

Aston Villa
Albert Adomah (ankle) and John McGinn (calf) are doubts and Birkir Bjarnason, Henri Lansbury, James Bree and Mile Jedinak are all injured. Alan Hutton serves a one-game ban.

Key stat
Middlesbrough have lost two of 23 games this season.

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