Bolton v Middlesbrough prediction

Championship · · Toughsheet Community Stadium

Updated · refreshed continuously

TACTIX model preview

TACTIX’s model makes Over 2.5 goals the free pick for Bolton v Middlesbrough, Championship on Fri, 23 Oct 2026 20:00 BST.

Free pick
Over 2.5 goals
Best price: 1.52 at Betano
This is one free selection. The model’s confidence rating, value against the bookmakers and every other market are part of Pro.
The record in this market: of the calls the model rated 70% or more on Over 2.5 goals in the last 90 days, 65.7% of 630 landed (95% range 61.9–69.3%); it had given them 76.5% on average. That is the market’s record, not a forecast for this pick. The model has been overconfident here: weigh its calls in this market with that in mind. How accurate →
Match preview, in numbers

The match

Bolton host Middlesbrough in the Championship on Friday 23 October (kick-off 20:00 UK); the model’s free pick is Over 2.5 goals.

The key numbers

Middlesbrough are unbeaten in their last six matches in all competitions. Middlesbrough have scored in six consecutive matches in all competitions. Middlesbrough are unbeaten in the last five meetings with Bolton, every meeting checked.

Form and the table

Eight of Bolton’s last 15 results in all competitions went over 2.5 goals (53%). Both teams scored in seven of Bolton’s last 15 results in all competitions (47%). At home, Bolton have four wins, no draws and three defeats in their last 7 home matches in all competitions — 1.71 points per game, scoring 1.57 and conceding 1.14. Bolton have scored 15 goals, the 12th-fewest (shared) of the 24 clubs (2026/27 so far). Bolton have conceded 18 goals, the eighth-most (shared) of the 24 clubs.

10 of Middlesbrough’s last 15 results in all competitions went over 2.5 goals (67%). Both teams scored in 10 of Middlesbrough’s last 15 results in all competitions (67%). Away from home, Middlesbrough have three wins, two draws and three defeats in their last 8 away matches in all competitions — 1.38 points per game, scoring 1.38 and conceding 1.50. Middlesbrough have scored 22 goals, the second-most of the 24 clubs (2026/27 so far). Middlesbrough have conceded 16 goals, the 11th-fewest (shared) of the 24 clubs.

Bolton (15th) and Middlesbrough (third) are eight points apart, 2026/27 so far. TACTIX’s Glicko-2 team ratings have Middlesbrough the stronger side, 194 rating points above Bolton (Middlesbrough 1675, Bolton 1481, after at least 103 rated matches each).

Head-to-head

The most recent meeting, on 29 August 2023, finished Bolton 1–3 Middlesbrough.

Team news

Predicted Bolton XI (4-2-3-1): G. Bazunu, E. Toal, G. Larrazabal, B. Davies, M. Conway, J. Sheehan, T. Gale, E. Erhahon, S. Iling-Junior, R. Rodrigues, S. Dalby — derived from the last 8 line-ups, most-used eleven. By TACTIX Impact, Chris Forino-Joseph (4.6 per match over seven appearances) and Max Conway (3.6 per match over 11 appearances, one assist) have been Bolton’s most influential players 2026/27, all competitions. In numbers for Bolton (2026/27, all competitions, before kick-off), Chris Forino-Joseph averages 2.6 tackles per 90 over 616 minutes, with a tackle in seven of the last seven appearances. Max Conway averages 2.9 tackles per 90 over 693 minutes, with a tackle in seven of the last 10 appearances.

Predicted Middlesbrough XI (3-4-2-1): R. Vítek, A. Phillips, N. Borges, C. Brittain, A. Morris, S. Berhalter, R. McGree, A. Cozier-Duberry, T. Conway, M. Arfsten, W. Lankshear — derived from the last 8 line-ups, most-used eleven. By TACTIX Impact, Amario Cozier-Duberry (5.9 per match over seven appearances, two goals and three assists) and Aidan Morris (4.9 per match over 12 appearances, one goal) have been Middlesbrough’s most influential players 2026/27, all competitions. In numbers for Middlesbrough (2026/27, all competitions, before kick-off), Amario Cozier-Duberry averages 2.5 key passes per 90 over 583 minutes, with a key pass in seven of the last eight appearances. Aidan Morris averages 0.8 key passes per 90 over 1060 minutes, with a key pass in six of the last 10 appearances.

Written from the matches TACTIX holds for both sides; each figure names the games it is counted over.

The numbers

  • Kick-off: · Championship · Toughsheet Community Stadium
  • Model coverage: 246 markets priced for this fixture
  • Head-to-head (last 5): Bolton 0 · draws 0 · Middlesbrough 5 · 2.6 goals/game
  • Recent form: Bolton 3W 1D 1L · Middlesbrough 2W 3D 0L

Bolton v Middlesbrough (Championship): the key numbers are on this page — and TACTIX’s live, market-by-market track record is one click away (as of 21 October 2026). See the live track record →

Key stats

1.63 / 1.88
Goals
against 2 / 1.75 · 2 of the last 5 over 3.25
over 8 matches
4.75 / 5.88
Corners
against 5.5 / 4.75 · 3 of the last 5 over 9.5
over 8 matches
5 / 6.75
Shots on target
against 5 / 3.75 · 4 of the last 5 over 8.5
over 8 matches
2 / 1.38
Cards
against 1.63 / 1.5 · 3 of the last 5 over 3.5
over 8 matches
246
Markets analysed

Per game, last 8 completed matches, to 17 October 2026. Over/under figures use standard thresholds, not bookmaker lines.

Per game, last 8 completed matches, to 17 October 2026. Bars: for (mint) against (amber), scaled to the larger figure in the row. Lines marked “our book” are this fixture’s; the rest are standard thresholds, not prices.
Per gameBolton for / againstLineMiddlesbrough for / against
Goals scored
1.63 for · 2 against n 8
3.25our book
1.88 for · 1.75 against n 8
Corners won
4.75 for · 5.5 against n 8
9.5standard
5.88 for · 4.75 against n 8
Shots
14.25 for · 13.13 against n 8
19.5standard
19.5 for · 11.25 against n 8
Shots on target
5 for · 5 against n 8
8.5standard
6.75 for · 3.75 against n 8
Fouls committed
11.63 for · 10.63 against n 8
21.5standard
9.63 for · 9.5 against n 8
Cards shown
2 for · 1.63 against n 8
3.5standard
1.38 for · 1.5 against n 8
Bolton
Bolton — Discipline: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances before kick-off, to 17 October 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
PlayerMinsFouls committed 1+2+Fouls won 1+2+Likely duel
J. Nelson n 825
2.73/2
1.83/1
—
Thelonius Bair n 827
2.14/1
0.41/0
—
Ruben Rodrigues n 852
1.95/2
38/5
—
S. Iling-Junior n 847.8
1.64/2
0.73/0
—
E. Erhahon n 861.3
1.56/1
0.95/0
—
Bolton — Shooting: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances before kick-off, to 17 October 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
PlayerMinsShots 1+2+Shots on target 1+2+
J. Nelson n 825
3.65/2
1.84/0
Thelonius Bair n 827
2.94/2
1.32/1
R. Hardie n 822.6
23/1
0.51/0
S. Dalby n 869.4
1.97/1
16/0
T. Gale n 865.5
1.96/4
0.95/0
Bolton — Goalscoring: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances before kick-off, to 17 October 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
PlayerMinsGoals 1+2+Assists 1+2+
Thelonius Bair n 827
0.41/0
0.41/0
A. Ito n 839
0.62/0
00/0
S. Dalby n 869.4
0.53/0
00/0
T. Gale n 865.5
0.32/0
0.21/0
X. Simons n 847.8
0.52/0
00/0
Bolton — Tackles: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances before kick-off, to 17 October 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
PlayerMinsTackles 1+2+
M. Conway n 860.8
3.75/4
E. Erhahon n 861.3
2.87/4
C. Forino-Joseph n 888.3
2.58/7
J. McAtee n 847.5
2.46/1
J. Nelson n 825
2.33/2
Bolton — Goalkeeper saves: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances before kick-off, to 17 October 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 2+, lower cell 3+.
PlayerMinsSaves 2+3+
Gavin Bazunu n 890
3.16/3
J. Bonham n 890.9
2.75/2
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough — Discipline: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances before kick-off, to 17 October 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
PlayerMinsFouls committed 1+2+Fouls won 1+2+Likely duel
R. Pukštas n 863.1
3.47/7
1.85/3
—
Maximilian Arfsten n 838.3
2.15/1
0.62/0
—
Sebastian Berhalter n 855.5
24/3
1.45/1
—
M. Peart-Harris n 837.9
1.84/2
1.55/0
—
Leo Castledine n 844.5
1.34/1
12/1
—
Middlesbrough — Shooting: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances before kick-off, to 17 October 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
PlayerMinsShots 1+2+Shots on target 1+2+
A. Cozier-Duberry n 872.9
3.48/5
1.75/4
W. Lankshear n 869.5
2.96/6
1.96/4
R. Pukštas n 863.1
2.56/3
1.45/2
Sebastian Berhalter n 855.5
2.25/3
1.24/2
K. Joseph n 837.4
2.15/1
1.23/1
Middlesbrough — Goalscoring: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances before kick-off, to 17 October 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
PlayerMinsGoals 1+2+Assists 1+2+
J. Sarmiento n 840.8
0.62/0
0.31/0
A. Cozier-Duberry n 872.9
0.32/0
0.53/0
W. Lankshear n 869.5
0.85/0
00/0
Sebastian Berhalter n 855.5
0.42/0
0.42/0
T. Conway n 852.9
0.21/0
0.62/1
Middlesbrough — Tackles: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances before kick-off, to 17 October 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
PlayerMinsTackles 1+2+
A. Morris n 889.3
48/6
R. Pukštas n 863.1
2.75/4
Sebastian Berhalter n 855.5
2.65/3
C. Brittain n 890
2.47/4
J. Sarmiento n 840.8
2.25/3
Middlesbrough — Goalkeeper saves: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances before kick-off, to 17 October 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 2+, lower cell 3+.
PlayerMinsSaves 2+3+
S. Brynn n 893.8
2.56/3
R. Vítek n 890
2.46/2

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Form, head-to-head & standings

The numbers behind Bolton v Middlesbrough — recent results, past meetings and where each side sits. (TACTIX’s model forecast is in the projections below.)

Recent form
BoltonWWLWD
Last 5: 3W 1D 1L · 1.8 scored / 1.2 conceded per game
MiddlesbroughDDWWD
Last 5: 2W 3D 0L · 2 scored / 1.6 conceded per game
Head-to-head last 5
Bolton 0 · 0 draws · Middlesbrough 5 · 2.6 goals/game
  • 2023-08-29 Bolton 1–3 Middlesbrough
  • 2019-04-09 Bolton 0–2 Middlesbrough
  • 2018-09-19 Middlesbrough 2–0 Bolton
  • 2017-12-26 Middlesbrough 2–0 Bolton
  • 2017-09-09 Bolton 0–3 Middlesbrough
League standing · 2026/27
Bolton#15 pos14 pts11 pl-3 GD
Middlesbrough#3 pos22 pts11 pl+6 GD
Goals per game
Bolton scored1.36
Middlesbrough scored2
Bolton conceded1.64
Middlesbrough conceded1.45

See the full prediction

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Frequently asked questions

Who is predicted to win Bolton v Middlesbrough?
TACTIX’s free model pick for Bolton v Middlesbrough is Over 2.5 goals (best price 1.52 at Betano).
What is the head-to-head record between Bolton and Middlesbrough?
In their last 5 meetings, Bolton won 0, Middlesbrough won 5 and there were 0 draws, averaging 2.6 goals per game.
What is the recent form of Bolton and Middlesbrough?
Recent form — Bolton 3W 1D 1L; Middlesbrough 2W 3D 0L.

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