Middlesbrough v Tottenham predictions: Spurs hotshots can make their mark

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Middlesbrough v Tottenham in the FA Cup fifth round on Tuesday.

Where to watch

BBC One, 7.55pm, Tuesday

Best bet

Over 1.5 Tottenham goals
2pts 10-11 Hills

Team news

Middlesbrough
Midfielder Matt Crooks returns from suspension but Marc Bola is out with a knee injury.

Tottenham
Lucas Moura will be hoping to recover from a knock. Oliver Skipp, Japhet Tanganga and Rodrigo Bentancur miss out.

Match preview

Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son have combined for more Premier League goals than any other top-flight partnership following the South Korean's goal in the 4-0 win at Leeds and they should not slow up in their FA Cup showdown with Middlesbrough on Tuesday.

Television producers plainly sniff a shock, but while the Championship side have won their last seven home games and knocked Manchester United out on penalties in the last round, they have a massive task containing the top flight's deadliest duo.

Boro lost 3-2 at Barnsley in the Championship on Saturday and Chris Wilder's side will fancy taking on all-comers.

But Kane ominously displayed a new lease of list in their 3-2 win at champions Manchester City and built on that with a great performance at Leeds.

If Premier League defences are struggling to keep a check on him as he drops into deeper positions, it could be a big problem for Boro.

The England captain has the keys to release Son, as he did for the fourth goal at Elland Road, and January recruit Dejan Kulusevski already looks an excellent acquisition.

It's not all been plain sailing, though. Manager Antonio Conte's mood swung dramatically from an ecstatic reaction to the shock win at the Etihad to appearing on the verge of quitting following a dismal 1-0 defeat at Burnley.

That Turf Moor appearance aside, though, Tottenham are beginning to look more like the energetic outfit of the Mauricio Pochettino era and they should still be at full throttle for their trip to the Riverside.

Tottenham took their eye off the ball in their FA Cup third-round tie against League One strugglers Morecambe, when they were losing with 20 minutes to go before posting a 3-1 win.

However, punters should anticipate a more focused Spurs team, especially as the core of the side who played against the Shrimps have now been farmed out.

Tottenham have enough quality to threaten Boro's defence and odds of 10-11 that they score at least twice appear generous.

That is not to belittle the home team's chances because they earned a replay against Tottenham two years ago, and that was against a strong, if Kane-less Spurs line-up.

No team in the Championship can better Boro's tally of 11 home victories this season so they won't sit back, but that could prove to be their undoing, particularly as Spurs have looked stronger at the back with the return of Eric Dier and Cristian Romero.

Tottenham have a fine goalscoring record in recent FA Cup matches and that is a pattern that looks set to continue on Tuesday.

Key stat

Tottenham have scored at least three goals in seven of their last eight FA Cup matches.

Inside info

Middlesbrough

Penalty taker Andraz Sporar
Free-kick wizard Paddy McNair
Set-piece aerial threat Matt Crooks
Card magnet Paddy McNair

Tottenham

Penalty taker Harry Kane
Free-kick wizardHarry Kane
Set-piece aerial threatEric Dier
Card magnetPierre-Emile Hojbjerg

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