Middlesbrough have been hard to beat lately but not spectacular - their recent games have mostly ended in draws, with one win and one loss mixed in. They look steady rather than dominant. Sheffield United, on the other hand, are struggling badly: they've lost most of their recent matches, with just one win to show for it, so they come into this one low on confidence.

There's no recent history between these two to suggest a goalfest, and both teams have found scoring difficult, so this looks like a tight, cautious game rather than an open one. Given Middlesbrough's steadier form and Sheffield United's poor run, Middlesbrough are the more likely winners, though the match could easily stay close.