Reading will be looking for their third win in a row in the Championship when they welcome Middlesbrough to the Madejski Stadium on Saturday for the ninth league round with kickoff at 14:30.
Reading have been enjoying a good run of form since the international break recording a 3-3 draw against Huddersfield and back to back wins including an impressive 3-1 victory over Peterborough and a shocking 1-2 win against Fulham last weekend where Ovie Ejaria scored his first two goals of the season in an exceptional fashion.
The draw against QPR saw the Royals drop to the relegation zone but their back to back wins propelled them to the 14th spot with only three points keeping them out of the playoff spots. Veljko Paunovic’s side will now head into the match with three points in mind and they also look to keep their current momentum with a trip to Derby coming next.
This will be close match but Reading might fancy their chances as their currently boast in a good home form having just lost one of their last 11 home league matches hence they will be confident going into the match.
Meanwhile Middlesbrough have been struggling to find their rhythm this season having only recorded two wins in their opening eight matches with three draws and three defeats two of which came after the international break.
However, Boro have proved to be relatively strong at the back as only league toppers Bournemouth have conceded fewer goals on the road than Neil Warnock’s side, though Boro have still been struggling as they have only registered one win in their last six games an head into the match off the back of a 2-1 defeat at the hands of newly-promoted Blackpool last weekend.
The defeat left the Teesside outfit sitting in the 15th spot in the Championship standings with nine points but a win on Saturday will see them close to the top six.
Although bookies see Reading as the favorites in this match, recent history sides with Boro as they are unbeaten in their last nine games against the Royals since 2015 recording eight wins in the process.
Reading vs Middlesbrough head to head
Both sides have met in 28 meeting since 1994 with Middlesbrough taking the upper hand with 14 victories while Reading have claimed eight victories and they have been six draws.
- Reading 0-2 Middlesbrough 20/02/21
- Middlesbrough 0-0 Reading 17/10/20
- Reading 1-2 Middlesbrough 14/07/20
- Middlesbrough 1-0 Reading 14/09/19
- Middlesbrough 2-1 Reading 27/04/19
Home
- Fulham 1-2 Reading
- Reading 3-1 Peterborough
- Reading 3-3 QPR
- Huddersfield 4-0 Reading
- Coventry 2-1 Reading
Away
- Middlesbrough 1-2 Blackpool
- Nottingham 0-2 Middlesbrough
- Coventry 2-0 Middlesbrough
- Middlesbrough 1-1 Blackburn
- Derby 0-0 Middlesbrough
Reading team news
Reading will be without their two key center-backs after Tom Holmes and Michael Morrison both picked up injuries last weekend while Rael Cabral is available following a hand injury.
Middlesbrough team news
Boro will be without Anfernee Dijksteel who was forced out of the Blackpool’s match last weekend while Marc Bola and Paddy Mcnair remain as doubts.
Prediction and odds
- Reading win
- Both sides to score
- Goals over 2.5
