The 2019-20 Sky Bet Championship season finally kicks off this weekend as Luton Town welcome Middlesbrough to Kenilworth Road in Friday Night Football.
This fixture marks Luton’s return to the second tier of English football since the 2006-07 season as Graeme Jones takes over the hot seat, whilst Middlesbrough are beginning life under Jonathan Woodgate after two failed promotion challenges under Tony Pulis.
Team news
Luton have no injury concerns ahead of this match with several summer signings set to start, including; Simon Sluga, Jacob Butterfield and Martin Cranie who faces his former club, having spent second half of 2017-18 season on Teesside.
Boro is set to have goalkeeper, Darren Randolph available after missing part of pre season with a calf injury.
Dael Fry however is unlikely to feature as he continues his fightback from a hamstring injury.
Form
Luton enter this game off the back of four wins and one defeat from their five pre-season outings, in which James Collins was their top scorer with four goals.
Middlesbrough meanwhile went unbeaten in four of their six pre-season friendlies (W3, D1) but collected just one clean sheet, although they featured nine different goal scorers with Britt Assombalonga the only player to net more than once with his hat-trick at Salford City.
Stat Attack
- Luton have lost just one of their last five meetings with Middlesbrough, with that defeat coming in their last meeting back in April 1995 which coincidentally was the final ever match at Ayresome Park. (W2, D2, L1).
- Three of the last five meetings at Kenilworth Road have been settled by 1-0 results,, with Boro winning on two occasions to Luton’s one.
- Middlesbrough have taken five points in total from their last five Championship openers, with their last three such opening fixtures coming away from the Riverside Stadium.
- Luton are currently on a 27 league match unbeaten home run, amassing 67 points during that run.
- Each of Middlesbrough’s last three managers have lost their opening game in charge of the club, with Gary Monk and Tony Pulis both losing their openers by 1-0 results against Wolves and Aston Villa respectively.
Prediction
Given that both teams have new managers and have enjoyed similar fortunes in pre season, I am expecting a tough game here because Luton netted 100 goals in all competitions but Middlesbrough’s defence is one of the division’s best.
If tempted to go by results of previous opening live TV games as an indication then you will find no pattern, which only makes this tougher to call but my gut instinct is saying a narrow away win.
Prediction: Luton Town 1-2 Middlesbrough
Result: Luton Town 3-3 Middlesbrough