Reading welcomes Middlesbrough to the Madejski Stadium in Saturday’s big Sky Bet Championship clash.
Victory will see Reading stay fifth in the table, whereas Middlesbrough could climb to seventh with a win if Cardiff lose at home to Preston.
Team News
Josh Laurent could return for Reading after missing their midweek win at Bristol City with minor injury niggles.
Felipe Araruna (knee) is the Royals’ only definite injury absentee.
Middlesbrough will have Paddy McNair available after his red card in Tuesday’s win over Huddersfield was rescinded upon appeal.
Dael Fry (calf) is also set to return but Marcus Tavernier and Marcus Browne remain ruled out with knee injuries.
Stat Attack
- Reading have taken just one point from their last eight meetings against Middlesbrough (D1, L7).
- Middlesbrough have taken ten points from their last five away trips to Reading (W3, D1, L1).
- Reading hasn’t lost three straight home games since August-October 2019, although they did go on a five match winless home run between January-February 2020 (D2, L3).
- Just one of Middlesbrough’s last six league goals have come after half-time, albeit in a 2-1 comeback win at Nottingham Forest on 20 January.
- Seven of Lucas Joao’s 17 Championship goals for Reading this season have come at home, with two of his seven home goals coming in the 16th minute.
Prediction
With the promotion race beginning to widen, Reading need a strong performance here to keep pace but their home form has begun to again look shaky, which is a concern coming into this match given their recent poor form against Middlesbrough.
Neil Warnock’s Boro however aren’t in the best of form themselves with just four points from their last six matches, yet their January signings are already beginning to make an impact with Neeskens Kebano in particular looking a real handful up front.
I therefore am expecting a good contest here but if Boro can use their strong head-to-head form against Reading as a launchpad to deliver a good performance, I can see them springing a surprise here and taking victory otherwise a score draw is probably a likely bet.
Prediction: Reading 1-1 Middlesbrough
Result: Reading 0-2 Middlesbrough