Middlesbrough climbed back to the top of the Championship with a routine midweek victory over struggling Millwall and Aitor Karanka’s troops are now bet365’s 11/4 favourites to finish top of the table.

A return to the Premier League for Boro is a reassuringly skinny 8/13 at Ladbrokes but things are tight at the summit and they’ll be acutely aware that they’ll have to maintain a level of consistency over the remaining 11 games.

Today, Middlesbrough face a tricky trip to a much-improved Nottingham Forest, who have secured five victories in their last seven outings. Boro are William Hill’s 8/5 favourites while the hosts are 2/1 shots at Stan James and BetVictor post a potentially popular 12/5 against it finishing all square.

Last season’s corresponding fixture ended 2-2, a result on offer at 15/1 (BetVictor) on this occasion and bet365 quote 10/3 about any score draw at the City Ground, where Boro are 14/1 at Skybet to again relinquish a half-time lead to only land a point.

Alternatively, Winner.com mark 7/10 Karanka’s charges in the ‘Draw No Bet’ market but Forest’s decent recent form came to an end on Tuesday as they went down at Charlton and with two wins in their last three Boro should edge a tight encounter.

Stan James make Boro 3/1 to emerge triumphant by a one-goal margin, BetVictor offer 19/2 about a 2-1 away win, in a game that’s 4/5 (betway) to see both teams find the net and Paddy Power price the visitors at 9/2 to prevail despite a level first half.

In attack, Kike is 6/1 courtesy of Stan James to follow his goal against Millwall with the opener this time and Patrick Bamford is a slightly chunkier 13/2 (bet365) to break the deadlock.

In League Two, bet365 rate Hartlepool as their 3/1 underdogs ahead of the visit of promotion-chasing Burton (11/10, BetVictor) and it’s 12/5 with betway for the two teams to be inseparable.

Odds supplied by www.betrescue.com

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