Fulham v Middlesbrough betting tips and odds
Fulham were relegated from the Premier League last season but are 5/1 favourites in the Championship title odds ahead of Sunday’s opener against Middlesbrough.
The Cottagers have a new man at the helm in former Everton, Watford and Hull manager Marco Silva, who replaced Scott Parker in the summer.
The west Londoners are 17/20 to get off to a winning start in front of their home supporters as we look at the markets and odds in our Fulham v Middlesbrough betting tips.
Match Odds
Fulham’s handful of loan signings that made up the bulk of their starting line-ups have all returned to their parent clubs with only Liverpool winger Harry Wilson and Tottenham keeper Paulo Gazzaniga joining the squad during the summer.
Aleksandar Mitrovic was not a regular starter in the top flight but he has scored 38 goals in 57 appearances in the Championship so this is a division which should suit him.
Boro boss Neil Warnock made his sixth signing of the summer on Thursday with the £6million capture of 22-year-old central midfielder Martin Payero who played in all three of Argentina’s group games at the Olympics, although he has yet to receive international clearance.
— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) August 6, 2021
With striker Uche Ikpeazu also having joined from Wycombe, hopes are high that Boro, 11/2 for promotion, can improve on last season’s 10th place.
Fulham struggled in front of goal last season so they can be backed at 7/5 to win and under 3.5 goals or 10/11 to win either 1-0, 2-0 or 3-0.
Marco Silva’s men have only played a couple of friendlies, while Boro have had five outings, including a 2-1 defeat at York, so the visitors can be backed at 12/5 to draw or 17/5 to win in our Fulham v Middlesbrough betting tips.
Talking Tactics
Gazzaniga started in goal for the last pre-season game, a 1-0 victory against Charlton during which Mitrovic and Anthony Knockaert started up front, with Jean-Michael Seri, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Bordeaux, operating in midfield.
Tim Ream and Tosin Adarabioyo played at centre-back, but Wilson only made the bench, coming on as a substitute with 25 minutes remaining.
Warnock could hand debuts to new signings Joe Lumley, Ukpeazu, Lee Peltier and Matt Crooks, but Isaiah Jones is doubtful after undergoing facial surgery following a nasty aerial collision against the Addicks, although he could play wearing a mash he has had fitted.
Goalscorer Odds
Mitrovic’s record in this division means he is the obvious 7/2 favourite to break the deadlock and is 6/4 to score, although Knockaert is 15/2 and 3/1 in the same markets.
Attacking midfielder Neeskens Kebano, who scored from the penalty spot in a 1-1 draw against a strong Southampton team in their first warm-up, is 17/2 and 7/2.
Boro striker Ikpeazu is 15/2 to draw first blood, while Paddy McNair, whose free-kick secured a 1-0 win at Rotherham, is 16/1 to bag the opening goal and 13/2 to net any time.
Match Info
Where: Craven Cottage
When: 13:30, Sunday 8th August
How to watch: Sky Sports
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
