After beating Blackburn Rovers 3-0 in midweek, Reading will try to win back-to-back matches when they host Middlesbrough at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday with a kickoff at 5 pm.
Reading has had a mixed start to the season, sitting in eighth place with six points to their name. They have won two of their five competitive games this term but have lost to Blackpool and Rotherham United in the Championship and suffered a 2-1 defeat to Stevenage in the first round of the EFL Cup.
Although their start to the season has been inconsistent, the Royals will enter Saturday’s contest in a confident mood after thrashing a Blackburn Rovers side that had won all four of their competitive matches before meeting Reading on Wednesday night.
Reading has enjoyed a promising start to the season, while Middlesbrough is still searching for their first win. They drew 1-1 against West Bromwich Albion in their first game of the season, lost 3-2 to Queens Park Rangers in their second and lost 2-0 against Stoke City in their third.
Last weekend Reading took a point off Chris Wilder’s former club Sheffield United with a 2-2 draw, and Middlesbrough replicated that scoreline against Stoke in midweek.
Reading vs Middlesbrough Head to Head
Both sides have 26 games against each other, with hosts taking eight wins while visitors with thirteen wins. Here is a look at their previous encounters:
Home
- Reading 3-0 Blackburn
- Rotherham 4-0 Reading
- Reading 1-2 Stevenage
- Reading 2-1 Cardiff City
Away
- Stoke City 2-2 Middlesbrough
- Middlesbrough 2-2 Sheffield United
- Middlesbrough 0-1 Barnsley
- QPR 3-2 Middlesbrough
Reading Team News
Reading has several players unavailable for Saturday’s game, including Liam Moore, Yakou Meite and Sam Hutchinson. Ovie Ejaria and Femi Azeez will also miss the match due to hamstring and calf injuries. Scott Dann is sidelined with a calf problem.
Middlesbrough Team News
For Middlesbrough, Dael Fry may have to settle for a place on the bench after dropping out of the side for the midweek contest with Stoke. Alex Mowatt was given his first start against Stoke on Wednesday and should retain his place at Reading. Wilder could make a change up front, with Marcus Forss in contention for a starting spot.
Prediction and Odds
Middlesbrough is winless this season, but they have only lost one of their four league games. We think their wait for a win will continue past the weekend.
- Draw
- Double Chance
- Goals Over 2.5
