Man City and Middlesbrough look horns at Maine Road on Monday evening in an intriguing clash between two sides that are struggling for consistency at present. Both sides are good when they're good, but pretty bad when they're bad. 

In Man City's case, their sword has been blunted somewhat over the past few seasons through the sale of the likes of Shaun Wright-Phillips, Antoine Sibierski and Andy Cole, who went to Portsmouth for £500,000. 

Although given Cole's advancing years - he's now 35 - this may have seemed like good business, it doesn't look such a wise move when you consider that Cole was their leading goalscorer last season, and that lack of goals is what's blighting them now.
 
Indeed, Stuart Pearce's men have registered just six goals in their nine Premiership matches played this season and, despite the fact that they are unbeaten at home so far this term, they have rode their luck on occasions and if Boro turn up on a going day, City could be in trouble.
 
Middlesbrough, now managed by Gareth Southgate following Steve McClaren's appointment as England coach, has sought to instil a more effective defensive strategy into Boro's game. On occasions this has worked, but on others it clearly hasn't.
 
However, following a run of three poor performances when they were dumped out of the Carling Cup by Notts County and beaten by both Blackburn and Sheffield United, the Tynecastle outfit have bounced back with highly creditable victories against Everton and Newcastle, albeit both at the Riverside.
 
Generally Boro aren't as effective away from home, but they've gained points at the Emirates and the Reebok during the current campaign, and the fact that they will be going into this game on the back of two wins, whereas City's last fixture saw them take a 4-0 pasting at Wigan, suggests that both confidence and momentum will be in their favour.
 
I can envisage Southgate urging his side to break smartly and, with a strong set of strikers to go to war with, I reckon that Boro could give the Citizens the Blues in this match. At a tasty 5/1, Middlesbrough/Middlesbrough in the double result market makes plenty of appeal.
 
In addition, Yakubu has scored in each of the Red Lions' last three matches, including netting the first goal in two of the fixtures in question. There's a good chance that the Nigerian striker will repeat the dose against City, so at 15/2 with Bet Direct he rates cracking value in the first goalscorer market.
 
Although both sides will be keen not to lose, the desire to win will be greater, as they will fancy their chances against each other, given that they are so closely matched. As such, although the two fixtures between them produced just one goal last season, I am anticipating fireworks, and goals to boot.

verdict:
 
1pt Middlesbrough/Middlesbrough in the double result market @ 5/1 (Premier Bet)
1pt Yakubu in the first goalscorer market @ 15/2 (Bet Direct)