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Bolton Wanderers vs Middlesbrough predictions for this evening’s 8pm (UK time) kick-off back Will Lankshear, scorer of nine of Middlesbrough’s 22 Championship goals, to find the net at 19/20 as third-placed Boro look to beat Bolton Wanderers 2-1 at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.
Bolton sit 15th after a stop-start opening to the 2026/27 season, while Middlesbrough travel to Lancashire third in the table and in the automatic promotion mix. It is a classic case of a promotion-chaser visiting a mid-table host under the Friday-night lights.
The market agrees, with Middlesbrough odds-on at 8/13 and Bolton out at 4/1. Below we run through our predictions grid, two premium tips and a score prediction.
Premium Tips
Anthony Eadson has gone through the card and landed on two angles for Bolton vs Middlesbrough: one siding with the visitors’ relentless scoring, the other with the competitive edge of a Friday-night Championship clash.
| Premium Tip | Odds | Why we’re backing it |
|---|---|---|
| Will Lankshear to score anytime | 19/20 (Ladbrokes) | Will Lankshear has scored nine of Middlesbrough’s 22 Championship goals and has found the net in each of his last three games. Boro have scored in all 11 of their league matches this season, while Bolton Wanderers have kept only three clean sheets and have conceded seven goals in five home games. Lankshear is the clear focal point of the visitors’ attack, and Ladbrokes’ 19/20 on him scoring at any time is the shorter of our two picks. |
| Sam Dalby to score anytime | 11/4 (bet365) | Sam Dalby is Bolton Wanderers’ top scorer with four Championship goals and led the line in their last game. Middlesbrough have plenty of goals in them, but they have kept only two clean sheets in 11 games and have conceded seven in five away matches. Bolton have scored in seven of their 11 league games, and both teams have scored in nine of Boro’s. With goals expected at both ends, bet365’s 11/4 on Dalby scoring at any time is the bigger-price option. |
18+ only. Please gamble responsibly. GambleAware — gambleaware.org · Odds correct at time of publishing.
How Bolton Wanderers go into the game
Bolton are 15th on 14 points from 11 games, a record of four wins, two draws and five defeats. Last time out they drew 0-0 away at Southampton; before that they won 3-1 at Wolves, lost 2-1 at home to Stoke, won 4-3 away at Norwich and beat Cardiff 1-0 at home.
The concern for Bolton is home form, where they have won just two of five (2W-0D-3L) and shipped seven goals. With only three clean sheets all season and a goal difference of minus three, Bolton have been watchable but leaky on their own ground.
How Middlesbrough go into the game
Middlesbrough are third on 22 points, beaten just once in 11 outings. Last time out they drew 2-2 at home with Cardiff; before that they won 3-2 at Stoke, beat Wolves 1-0 at home, drew 2-2 away at Birmingham and drew 2-2 at home with Millwall.
Boro have scored in every league game this season and boast a goal difference of plus six, keeping them firmly in the hunt for the top two. Their away return of two wins, two draws and one defeat (gf8 ga7) is solid rather than spectacular, but few sides carry a more consistent attacking threat on the road.
Bolton Wanderers vs Middlesbrough head-to-head
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09/04/19 | Bolton Wanderers | 0-2 | Middlesbrough |
| 19/09/18 | Middlesbrough | 2-0 | Bolton Wanderers |
| 26/12/17 | Middlesbrough | 2-0 | Bolton Wanderers |
| 09/09/17 | Bolton Wanderers | 0-3 | Middlesbrough |
These sides have not met since Middlesbrough’s Premier League days, and Boro won all four of the most recent meetings without Bolton scoring: 3-0 and 2-0 at home in 2017, 2-0 at home again in 2018 and 2-0 at Bolton in April 2019. Those results date back several seasons, though, so current form is the sharper guide here.
Bolton Wanderers vs Middlesbrough predictions & betting tips
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will Lankshear to score anytime | 19/20 (Ladbrokes) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Lankshear has scored in each of his last three games. |
| Sam Dalby to score anytime | 11/4 (bet365) | ⭐⭐ | Dalby is Bolton’s top scorer with four goals. |
| Middlesbrough to win | 8/13 (William Hill) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Third-placed Boro have one defeat in 11; Bolton have lost three of five at home this season. |
| Both Teams To Score – Yes | 4/7 (bet365) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Both leak goals: Bolton have conceded 18, Boro 16, and neither keeps many clean sheets. |
| Over 2.5 Goals | 1/2 (bet365) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Bolton have shipped seven in five home games; Boro average two goals an outing. |
| Correct Score 1-2 | 15/2 (bet365) | ⭐⭐ | Boro have scored in all 11; Bolton have conceded seven across five home games. |
Bolton Wanderers vs Middlesbrough score prediction
Middlesbrough’s one-defeat start and habit of scoring in every game make them clear favourites, but Bolton have shown they can find the net at home. We expect the visitors to control it and edge a game with goals at both ends. Score prediction: Bolton Wanderers 1-2 Middlesbrough.
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