On Sat Dec 18th, in week 23, Middlesbrough will host AFC Bournemouth at Riverside Stadium in a meeting of these two Championship teams. The game day is forecasted to be a cloudy and cool day, with daytime temperatures of only 5 degrees, making for an unpleasant day. Middlesbrough is fresh off their 0-0 scoreless draw against Stoke City. Neither Stoke City nor Middlesbrough could manage to put one past the goalie. They had 9 and 7 shots on net respectively, but no one could score, and the match ended in a scoreless draw,. Middlesbrough is looking for direction having earned 15 points in their last 10 matches, while in their last match, 2nd placed AFC Bournemouth, recorded a 0-2 loss against Blackburn Rovers. Ben Pearson struck first for Blackburn Rovers on an own goal in the 21st minute, then Jan Paul van Hecke added another in the 65th minute At the end of 90 a dissapointed AFC Bournemouth couldn’t manage to score, and Blackburn Rovers took the shutout win. AFC Bournemouth is looking for direction having 4 win and 3 losses in their last 10 matches.
This match will be the first time these two teams face eachother this season. Last season AFC Bournemouth won the head to head battle with 1 win and 1 draw.
Dominic Solanke has been the most effective weapon for AFC Bournemouth lately. The English attacker has netted 3 goals in his last five matches. Middlesbrough’s most prolific scorer has been Duncan Watmore. The English midfielder has netted two goals over the last five matches.