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Free Multi Bet Tips | West Bromwich Albion vs Middlesbrough Bet Builders | 16/1/26 | Football Park’s Best Bet

Nine years ago, West Brom and Middlesbrough faced off in the Premier League. Tony Pulis was in the Baggies dugout, Salomon Rondon and Alvaro Negredo were the two starting strikers, Ben Foster and Victor Valdes were in goal, a 20-year-old Adama Traore was playing on Boro’s wing, and the result? A classic 1-1 draw. Little did either side know, this would be their last top-flight affair for at least a decade.

Fast forward to the present, and it has almost been five years since either reached the promised land. Both teams are in current preparations for what should be a classic Friday night, under the lights fixture with the Sky Sports cameras there to capture it all.

For Middlesbrough, this is a must-win, as a loss could see them fall out of the automatic promotion spots and drop as far as 4th after one win in their last six games (all competitions).

However, for West Brom, things are slightly more desperate. The Baggies have dropped closer and closer to the relegation zone, and are now 7 points above it. This poor form resulted in Ryan Mason’s exit from the club, 7 months after he took charge.

Eric Ramsay is his replacement and has been given an entire week to prepare. This will be the 33-year-old’s first punt at senior management in England, having previously been on the cards at Manchester United, Chelsea, Swansea, and Wales as coaching/academy staff.

The result? Hard to call. Boro are clear favourites sitting at the top of the league, but with a new manager in charge, might West Brom pull off a shock at the Hawthorns?

Football Park is here to guide you through this fixture, offering smart and valuable tips at no cost. We’ve even offered two differing multi-bet selections, ranging from high-risk, high-reward options to a safer option with lower odds.

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Football Park’s West Bromwich Albion vs Middlesbrough Best Bets and Bet Builder Tips

Low Risk

West Brom Win or Draw
Both Teams to Score
Over 2.5 Goals

Total Odds: 13/5 or 3.60 - £10 returns £36

High Risk

West Brom to Win Both Halves
Luke Ayling to be shown a card

Total Odds: 25/1 or 26.00 - £10 returns £260

Why Pick the Low Risk:

Many casual football enjoyers will tell you that the ‘new manager bounce’ is a myth, and whilst it often doesn’t occur, there has been enough evidence to prove it does exist. Ryan Mason himself picked up 10 points from his opening four games in charge of the Albion; it then took 11 games for the Baggies to pick up another 10 points. This group of players have quality amongst them; they just need confidence instilled in them to pick up points consistently.

It’s also worth noting that even under Mason, West Brom have lost two of 12 Championship games at the Hawthorns this season. Playing at home was never the issue; it was on the road where the Albion struggled. West Brom Double Chance is a safe option, as even if the Baggies can’t bag all three points against tough opposition, this bet still pays out.

When this pair met in the reverse fixture earlier this season, three goals were scored. Neither are amongst the highest scoring teams in the division; however, West Brom’s 1.1 goals per game, and Boro’s 1.4 goals per game averages - when added together - produce an outcome of 2.5 goals in this game.

Over 2.5 Goals and Both Teams to score are likely outcomes from this game when factoring in, once again, West Brom’s considerably better home form, which sees them find the back of the net more at the Hawthorns too.

Why Pick the High Risk:

Moving away from the comfortable option, if you want to back West Brom even further, then picking the home side to win both halves is an option that could pay off handsomely. Ramsay’s Minnesota team last season was excellent at seeing out victories. The Loons led at halftime on 13 occasions in 2025; they lost one of those fixtures and won 10.

Ramsay’s teams also play with a resilience which sees them score more in the second half; in fact, 32 of Minnesota’s 56 goals last season were in the final 45. If the Welshman can instil this clarity quickly enough, then don’t be shocked if West Brom have the perfect start under their new boss, winning both halves.

Of all the players in this fixture, Luke Ayling is most likely to pick up a card. At 34, the ex-Leeds defender is the oldest regular in Boro’s squad, and no player has more yellows than him on Teeside this campaign.

The Baggies are expected to be a frustrating side to play under new management, and Ayling is likely to put in the odd rough tackle. On top of that, he's basically a guaranteed starter under Kim Hellberg, eliminating the possibility that this bet builder fails because the subject is not on the pitch.

Odds from Ladbrokes, correct as of 13:55, 13/1/2026. Sports betting, even with advice, is always a risk to your capital that should be enjoyed responsibly. Set a stop-loss, never chase any losses, and never stake what you cannot afford to lose.