Championship / Mike Norman / 01 January 2012 /

Mike Norman takes a look at Monday's Championship action and predicts goals at Bloomfield Road, not so many goals in Cardiff, and Nottingham Forest to lose again.

Blackpool v Middlesbrough, KO: Monday 15:00, Match Odds: Blackpool [2.78], Middlesbrough [2.84], The Draw [3.4]

Despite conceding a late equaliser (something Boro fans have come to expect in the last 18 months) it's been a decent Christmas, and in particular, four weeks, for Middlesbrough. When they lost to West Ham on November 29 they were fully eight points behind the Hammers; after Saturday's fixtures they are one point ahead of them. What's more, Tony Mowbray's men are now just two points adrift of league leaders Southampton.

It's not easy for Middlesbrough to play in front of a half empty Riverside Stadium, especially when visiting sides generally come to sit back and play for a draw, so it's no surprise that Boro have a fantastic away record in this division. Mowbray has got his men playing fast, free-flowing, attacking football and it works a treat away from home when the onus is on the home side to attack.

Blackpool are a side who will attack, especially at Bloomfield Road. Ian Holloway's men also know how to play attractive football and this could be a highly entertaining encounter. I watched the reverse of this fixture six weeks ago, a game that ended 2-2 but could, and should have been about 7-4 to Middlesbrough. I envisage this game having plenty of goals too, but with Boro playing a little better on the road I'm hoping they will have that little bit of extra quality on the day and pinch all three points.

Back Middlesbrough @ [2.84] to beat Blackpool
Back Over 3.5 Goals @ [4.4]

Cardiff v Reading, KO: Monday 15:00, Match Odds: Cardiff [2.3], Reading [3.5], The Draw [3.4]

A clash between two of the Championship's better, and currently in-form clubs. Malky Mackay's Cardiff side have lost just one of their last 12 league outings, and that was to second place Middlesbrough a fortnight ago. They conceded three goals in that defeat but ignore this fact and note that they conceded just four goals in 10 games, recording an impressive six clean sheets.

Reading have been equally impressive defensively in recent weeks. They lost 1-0 to Blackpool at the beginning of December but have since won four games on the bounce without conceding a single goal.

Granted, a game between two very good sides who regularly find the net should produce goals, but on the flip side of that they are both extremely organised defensively and don't give much away. It's a game that both managers will be happy not to lose and for that reason I'm expecting a low-scoring encounter.

Back Under 2.5 Goals @ [1.86]

Ipswich v Nottingham Forest, KO: Monday 15:00, Match Odds: Ipswich [2.36], Nottm Forest [3.4], The Draw [3.5]

You have to fear for Nottingham Forest. It's never nice to go on a losing run but I'm sure you'd much rather score goals during such a poor run of form. At least then you know that it's just a matter of time before the defence tightens up again and results begin to turn around. But when you're getting beat regularly without scoring a goal - like Forest are - you really don't know where the next win is going to come from.

Steve Cotterill's men have taken one point from the last 21 available but the worrying aspect is that they've failed to score a single goal in this time - almost 11 hours of football when you include injury time at the end of games.

Ipswich are a perfect example of what I am saying. The Tractor Boys lost seven consecutive games recently but they were scoring goals in those defeats. They have taken seven points from the last 12 available and this turn around in form is down to the fact that they have tightened up defensively (just two conceded in last three games), and there was certainly no disgrace in losing 1-0 away to in-form Reading on Saturday. With Forest unable to find the net for love or money Ipswich should win this one.

Back Ipswich @ [2.36] to beat Nottm Forest

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