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Ollie's predictions: Magnificent Middlesbrough value for another clean sheet

Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka and midfielder Adam Clayton with their December awards
Image: Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka and midfielder Adam Clayton

Sky Sports' Ian Holloway predicts the outcomes of eight standout fixtures on a bumper midweek of Football League action.

Brentford v Middlesbrough, Tuesday 7.45pm

Magnificent Middlesbrough! Whoever they play against, guess what chaps, you're not scoring. It has been over 12 hours since they last conceded a goal in the Championship and the way Brentford play will suit Boro down to the ground. Brentford like to play through midfield and Adam Clayton and Grant Leadbitter will just snuff everything out. It's phenomenal what they do without the ball.

 Ben Gibson of Middlesbrough celebrates victory over Derby
Image: Ben Gibson of Middlesbrough has played a huge part in Boro's fantastic season to date

Premier League teams such as Aston Villa, Swansea, Sunderland, Newcastle, Norwich and Bournemouth would all struggle against this Middlesbrough side at the moment. Away win. 

OLLIE PREDICTS: 0-2 (Sky Bet odds 8/1)

Derby v Reading, Tuesday 7.45pm

I really like where Derby are going as a football club. They've got the right DNA. The balance in the squad is great and there's also a pathway for young players to progress. My only worry is regarding the players on the bench that aren't playing every week - some of those lads are used to playing regularly and could be liable to have a moan or two. They've got to get over that. It can't be an easy squad of players to manage.

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With speculation growing around the future of Reading striker Nick Blackman, we look back at his prolific 2015/16 campaign so far

Reading will have a go, but can you move forward if you're selling your best players? Nick Blackman is Reading's top goalscorer but he'll be playing for Derby in this one after joining them. It's weird how it has taken Blackman until the last year of his contract to start tearing it up and scoring every week. Reading invested £1.5m for him in 2013, he scored seven goals in two seasons, then he has the best season of his career when his contract is running down. A coincidence? Probably not.

OLLIE PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 10/1)

Rotherham v Brighton, Tuesday 7.45pm

The wheels have come off at Brighton - they've forgotten how to score. It's now five games without a goal for them and it must be playing on their strikers' minds. However, they are the only unbeaten team away from home in the top four divisions. Do I think they're good enough to bounce back? Of course.

But it won't be here.

I think that unbeaten record will go at the hands of Rotherham, who are turning their home ground into a bit of a fortress. Neil Redfearn's men have won three of their last four matches at home without conceding. 

OLLIE PREDICTS: 1-0 (Sky Bet odds 6/1)

MK Dons v Burnley, Tuesday 7.45pm

MK Dons are improving and are finding their feet, but this will be a huge test. Burnley are as tough as they come. When they get their noses in front, they win games. They've taken the lead 11 times in the Championship this season and on every occasion they have won the game. That's incredible. Plus, any team that can score two goals past Middlesbrough are worth siding with. Away win.

OLLIE PREDICTS: 1-2 (Sky Bet odds 9/1)

Blackburn v QPR, Tuesday 7.45pm

At the moment it's a case of 'we are QPR, in the cup we don't go far, all our shots go over the bar, we are QPR'.

It's been a disappointing start to Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's reign - the players don't look focused. People will start saying soon 'is Jimmy good enough?' - but of course he is. The team he has inherited isn't good enough - QPR need freshening up.

I've read that Rob Green is just five games away from triggering a new one-year contract. That's a common thing in football for older players, but the easiest way to deal with it is to drop him. Let's be honest, at 35-years-old he's not going to improve. If he doesn't get his contract, then QPR will spend that money on someone else - that's football for you. Jimmy might want to go back and get his former goalkeeper at Burton [Jon McLaughlan] - he keeps plenty of clean sheets.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (l) poses with Director of Football Les Ferdinand as he is announced as the new Queens Park Rangers manager
Image: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink needs time, says Ollie

I've kept faith with the Super Hoops all season, but I don't fancy them going up to Blackburn.

It's unusual that Jordan Rhodes has gone seven games without a goal - he's one of those players that seems to always be on the vidiprinter. Maybe he's just getting used to playing with someone up front. It looks like an adjustment period for him, but he'll come through it, he's a quality player. Let's give him the winning goal. 

OLLIE PREDICTS: 1-0 (Sky Bet odds 6/1)

Sheffield Wednesday v Bolton, Tuesday 7.45pm

It's very sad what's happening at Bolton. They need a buyer, pronto. I hope someone can save the club as they're in turmoil. This isn't the right time for them to be going to Sheffield Wednesday, especially now they're losing two of their best players in Zach Clough and Mark Davies. Wednesday are unbeaten in 11 games at home, winning eight and have conceded just three goals in their last eight home games. More misery for Bolton, I'm afraid. 

OLLIE PREDICTS: 3-1 (Sky Bet odds 12/1)

Huddersfield v Charlton, Tuesday 7.45pm

Charlton fans aren't happy, and rightly so. The club is struggling on and off the pitch. They've only won two of their last 22 games - that's pretty frightening.

Chris Powell has not ruled out a return to Charlton as manager
Image: Chris Powell should be given the job at Charlton, says Ollie

Why don't they give the job to Chris Powell? He knows the club inside out, the fans respect him and he won promotion there in 2012. The owner, who we don't know much about, seems to have only a handful of managers that he's comfortable with. Jose Riga apparently is about to make a return. He kept them up in 2014, but why did he leave and go to Blackpool? You'd have thought the owner would have died to keep him. I'm very shocked that he's going back there.

It's impossible to fancy Charlton to get a positive result at the moment. 

OLLIE PREDICTS: 1-0 (Sky Bet odds 5/1)

Hull v Cardiff, Wednesday 7.45pm

Despite there being 11 points between these teams in the table, I think they're actually quite closely matched. Cardiff are a striker away from really challenging the teams in the top-six. They create plenty of openings, but struggle in front of goal. It would take the pressure of their defence if they started scoring more regularly. I really rate Hull City - but it shows the respect I've got for Cardiff that I'm giving them a draw.  

OLLIE PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 9/2)

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