Fulham vs Middlesbrough betting tips

Both Fulham and Middlesbrough are lurking disconcertingly close to the dreaded drop zone in the Premiership, and Monday night's fixture between the two at Craven Cottage is a must-win for both managers, Chris Coleman and Gareth Southgate. In the current managerial merry-go-round climate, a couple more negative results for either boss and the axe could fall. The Cottagers and Boro have taken just three points apiece from a possible 15 in their last five matches respectively. Neither side has had much joy in front of goal this season. Indeed, Fulham have scored a paltry seven goals in eight home Premiership games, while Boro have scored six and conceded 12 in eight away fixtures in the league. Fulham have completed 29 top flight matches since a victory by more than a single goal, while the visitors have only scored more than a single goal in one of 16 games in all competitions. These stats confirm just one thing: we shouldn't expect a flurry of goals tonight. This stat is particularly bewildering where Middlesbrough are concerned, as they possess a potent strikeforce, what with Yakubu, Viduka, Christie, Maccarone and Euell within their ranks. Even more worrying where this specific match is concerned is the fact that they have failed to win an away game since Southgate took hold of the reigns at Teeside. It has to be said, Fulham and Boro are proving to be major disappointments in the current campaign so far, but I'd have little hesitation in nominating the south west London side as the better of the two overall this term. They are consistently inconsistent, but as they demonstrated when beating Arsenal at home last month, they are dangerous when firing on all cylinders. The injuries to Luis Boa Morte, Papa Bouba Diop and Ian Pearce aren't aiding Fulham's cause, but they have enough depth to their squad to manage efficiently. Fulham have conceded first in 11 Premiership games this season and reached the interval level in ten of their 17 games played in the competition, stats which aren't conducive to backing them to lead at the break and at the final whistle. However, as they proved against the Gunners during the victory I alluded to earlier, they are capable of being quick off the blocks. Bearing in mind that magnitude of this game in terms of the importance of three points, I reckon Coleman will have the home side fired up, and at 29/10 with VCBet I am happy to risk a bit of my hard-earned on Fulham/Fulham in the double result market. With all due respect to Southgate, he doesn't have that persona that would galvanise players to go onto the pitch charged up in my opinion, and approaching games in the right frame of mind is crucial when it comes to bottom-of-the-table scraps like this one. Boro are averaging just a point a game, which is relegation material if it continues throughout the season. But they'd do well to even get a point from this encounter. Verdict: 2.50pts Fulham/Fulham in the double result market @ 29/10 (VCBet)