Middlesbrough prediction

Rarely must we have gone into a Premier League game with as much confidence of coming away with a win as we do today - a feeling shared by the bookies.

100% home record, whilst Middlesbrough have lost three of four, no injury worries and a side that in the past couple of games are beginning to play some excellent attacking football to go along with the organised and resolute defensive displays.

Middlesbrough are one of the sides I expect to come to Eastlands with a defensive mindset; a play for a point but see if we can snatch a win in the latter stages mentality. This is something they have been capable of previously (who can forget the 'win without shooting' game a couple of seasons back?) but I expect things to be different now.

We look an organised side, where all the players know their positions and responsibilities. The side look charged with a licence to create and play football, and in looking at both squads we should have too much for our opponents today.

I have been extremely impressed with everything Sven-Goran Eriksson has done so far this season (even moreso with the 'thankyou' message to Joey Barton), and he does seem to have a real ability to prepare sides thoroughly for each game.

It would be a real surprise if we didn't comfortably take all three points today and I pick us to come away with a 2-0 win.