- 1 Crystal Palace vs Middlesbrough: eight goals conceded in three league games, the stat that frames this third-round tie
- 2 Crystal Palace: a release of pressure, but the defence still looks wide open
- 3 Middlesbrough: 12 goals in seven games and second place to protect
- 4 Football prediction Crystal Palace vs Middlesbrough
- 5 First, a word on our free predictions
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information changes
- 8 Your role
- 9 Responsible gambling first
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About the images…
Crystal Palace vs Middlesbrough: eight goals conceded in three league games, the stat that frames this third-round tie 
Crystal Palace have shipped eight goals in three Premier League matches, a total that leaves them among the most open defences in English football. That number sets the tone for this third-round EFL Cup clash, which is scheduled for Tuesday 8 September at 19:45 UK time, or 20:45 in France.
The Eagles were spared the early rounds because of their European commitments. So they head into the tie at Selhurst Park with no cup minutes in their legs.
Middlesbrough, by contrast, arrive with momentum. Seven games in all competitions, five wins, one draw, one defeat, and second place in the Championship with ten points from fifteen.
But the weekend changed the mood for Palace. They claimed their first win of the season on Saturday, a 3-2 victory at Fulham sealed by a late Ben Chilwell goal after twice coming from behind.
This competition is no sideshow for Pierre Sage. The club reached the quarter-finals in the last two editions, and were knocked out last season on penalties by Arsenal, who went on to reach the final.
Recent history leans firmly one way. Palace have not lost to Middlesbrough at Selhurst Park since September 2011, though the last meeting between the two clubs, in October 2018 and also in the EFL Cup, went Boro’s way 1-0.
So the gap between the divisions does not tell the full story here. Middlesbrough have already played two cup ties this season, while Palace come in without a single reference point in the competition.
Crystal Palace: a release of pressure, but the defence still looks wide open 
13th in the Premier League, Palace needed three matches to get off the mark. The 3-2 win over Fulham ended two straight defeats.
The defensive issues are still glaring. Eight goals conceded in three games, no clean sheet since the season began: that’s the baseline Pierre Sage has to work from.
The attack has not exactly carried the load either. The Eagles have topped one goal only twice in their last seven competitive outings.
At home, the early-season record is ugly. Their only outing at Selhurst Park ended in a 4-1 defeat to Manchester City on 28 August, a second straight home loss.
The broader home record is kinder. Across the previous nine league games at Selhurst Park, Palace had won five and drawn four.
Rotation is coming. Adam Wharton in midfield and Chris Richards at the back are expected to drop out, with Will Hughes and Takehiro Tomiyasu the natural replacements.
Up front, Eddie Nketiah’s injury makes the call simpler for Pierre Sage. Jørgen Strand Larsen should lead the line, with Ismaïla Osorio and Óscar Mingueza out wide.
That shake-up comes at a cost. A reshuffled back line against an attack that has scored 12 goals in seven games is a dangerous bet for a side already leaking chances.
Try it for $0.99.
Middlesbrough: 12 goals in seven games and second place to protect 
Middlesbrough own the cleaner record of the two sides: five wins, one draw and one defeat in seven matches in all competitions. Twelve goals scored, six conceded, two clean sheets.
It is the kind of balance most teams would take at this stage of the season. Kim Hellberg has built a side that scores without throwing itself apart.
The latest result backs that up. A 1-0 win over Queens Park Rangers on Saturday kept Boro in second place in the Championship with ten points from a possible fifteen.
Their cup run has been handled properly. Middlesbrough beat Doncaster Rovers 3-1 in the second round on 25 August, with Leo Castledine leading the line.
Away from home, the Swedish coach’s record is still positive. Four trips this season, two wins, one draw, one defeat.
The XI should not change much from the previous round. Luke Ayling and Alfie Jones are expected to form the centre of defence, with Kyle Joseph and Myles Peart-Harris supporting Castledine.
The schedule works in the visitors’ favour in one obvious way. Middlesbrough have no reason to treat this as a throwaway tie; the cup offers a realistic route to silverware for a second-tier club full of confidence.
Palace’s recent run adds the other side of the argument. They reached the quarter-finals in the last two editions, so they will not be treating this lightly either.
This one should come down to which reshuffled team handles the night better. Middlesbrough are likely to name something close to the side that won at Doncaster, while Palace will mix regular starters with backups.
Probable Crystal Palace line-up: Benítez ; Tomiyasu, Disasi, Canvot ; Khalaili, Doucouré, Hughes, Chilwell ; Osorio, Mingueza ; Strand Larsen
Probable Middlesbrough line-up: Brynn ; Arfsten, Ayling, Jones, Borges ; Morris, Barron ; Peart-Harris, Hamilton, Joseph ; Castledine
Football prediction Crystal Palace vs Middlesbrough
Our prediction: Both teams to score
Palace have not kept a clean sheet all season and have conceded eight goals in three Premier League matches. Against a side that has scored 12 in seven games, a home shutout looks unlikely.
At the other end, Middlesbrough give chances up too. They have conceded six in seven, including two at Burnley and one against QPR despite winning. A rotated Palace side in front of their own fans only increases the risk.
Both teams should score. This one has goals in it at both ends.
in your pocket.
Real-time notifications & alerts
_________
First, a word on our free predictions
- What we publish on mathodds are opinions, nothing more. We share a view, a read of the moment, but never a guarantee. Sport is still sport: unpredictable. A red card, an injury, a goal out of nowhere… and the script changes completely.
- Let’s be clear: there is no risk-free bet. Even when something looks obvious, it never really is. And yes, that means you can lose. In fact, you will at some point.
- The smart move is to stay sensible. Bet small, set a budget and stick to it. Don’t touch money you need to live. And above all, don’t chase losses. That rarely ends well.
- A bet should stay a game, not a job or a source of income. If you feel it is taking too much space in your life, winding you up or putting you under pressure, take a break. And if needed, speak to a specialist service. That’s what they’re there for.
- At the end of the day, responsibility is yours. Reading our content means accepting that risk exists and will always be there, even with the best analysis in the world.
- Important reminder: betting is illegal for minors and must follow the law in your country. Gambling can quickly spiral into money loss, family tension and addiction. Need help? Gamblers Anonymous support line: 09 74 75 13 13 (local rate call) https://www.gambleaware.org/.
No commitment from us
Our predictions are not a contract. They carry no legal force. In plain English: you cannot use them to demand anything if a bet loses.
Information changes
A prediction is always based on what we know at the time it is written. But in the meantime, a team sheet changes (like Crystal Palace’s, for example), a player gets injured, the weather turns… and the analysis can quickly be out of date. We cannot be held responsible for that.
Your role
Before you bet, just check that betting is legal where you are. If it is not, that is your responsibility, not ours.
Responsible gambling first
We cannot say it enough: bet in moderation. If you are struggling to keep control, do not wait to get help. We cannot be responsible for compulsive or excessive use of the information published on the site.
Legal age
mathodds content is intended for adults only. By using this site, you confirm that you are old enough to bet under the law.
About the images…
The Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough images and logos on mathodds, including those linked to the EFL Cup, are there only to illustrate our articles. They do not mean we have an official link with any federation or sports body, and we do not claim any rights to them.
Those rights belong to the original creators. If, despite our care, an image causes a problem, contact us: it will be removed without delay.
Our only aim in using these images is to make reading more enjoyable. Nothing more. No commercial gain, no taking credit for someone else’s work.
Leave a Reply