Middlesbrough vs Reading Prediction & Betting Tips - Championship

Prediction published on 15/10/2020, 00:13  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 15/10/2020 at 00:21 in Championship Prediction

Reading have had a flying start to the season in the Championship and will be seeking to continue in the same way when they travel to Middlesbrough on Match Day 5. Hosts Middlesbrough head to this game on five points from four matches, while Reading are one of the two sides with a perfect run, and are joint top on 12 points. So far, Middlesbrough have played six matches in the season, four in the league and two in the Carabao Cup, and they have no clean sheet, signaling an issue in defence. However, they have failed to score in just two of the six matches and will be hoping to extend this against one of the best defences in the Championship. After a slow start to the season, Middlesbrough managed a win at the fourth attempt, just before the international break, beating Barnsley 2-1. A late penalty by Cauley Woodrow in the game meant they have no clean sheet in eight straight Championship matches. In the last 11 matches in the league, Middlesbrough have managed just one clean sheet. In the 10 league matches though, they have conceded more than one goal in just two, while they have scored in eight. In the 10 Championship matches, they have not scored more than twice but on four occasions they have scored two goals. Last season, they didn’t finish very strongly at home but after starting with a draw and a win in their opening two home matches, they will be looking to build on that. Playing at home, in the league, Middlesbrough have managed one win in 12 matches, and none of the 12 has a clean sheet for them.

Reading suffered 20 losses last season as they finished 14th in a troubled campaign, and they seem to have learnt from it. They are on four straight wins in as many matches in the Championship and are being touted among promotion candidates. Their only low this season was the loss to Luton Town in the Carabao Cup but there is no doubt new manager Veljko Paunovic has steadied their ship. In their six matches so far this season, Reading have won five and failed to score in just one. They have three clean sheets in four league matches and scored twice in three of the four league games. Last season, they finished strongly away from home, with three wins in their last five away league games and having already won their opening two away league games, they will be pumped up for this. Reading have scored in nine of their last 10 away league matches and in six of them they have scored two goals or more. They have lost each of their last seven matches against Middlesbrough and in their form, they will look at this as the chance to bring the bad run to an end.