Middlesbrough vs Reading
15th January 1500hrs
Football – England – EFL Championship
Pick Home Win to Nil
Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 5/4 odds taken 1216 GMT, Friday 14 January
Middlesbrough and Reading square off at the Riverside Stadium in the EFL Championship this Saturday. Boro are pushing for a play-off spot, while the Royals are living dangerously close to the edge in terms of relegation. Middlesbrough are in stunning form right now, and Chris Wilder’s side will be targeting all three points from this home league match. The hosts are the clear favourites with the bookmakers. Check out our betting preview, with the latest odds and best predictions.
Table of Contents
Middlesbrough Preview – In-form Boro to extend unbeaten run?
Since Chris Wilder took over at the Riverside Stadium back in November, Middlesbrough have suffered just one defeat in nine league and cup fixtures. After a six-game unbeaten run in the Championship, Boro are now only a point adrift of the play-off spots.
Since losing to Preston North End in Wilder’s second game in charge, Middlesbrough have dropped just two points. They have won five and drawn one of their following six in the league. In their last Championship encounter, the North Yorkshire side won 2-1 at Blackpool.
Middlesbrough, who also won at Mansfield Town in the FA Cup last weekend, head into their first league match of 2022 having won four in a row in all competitions. Will their superb form continue with another three points on Saturday?
Reading Preview – Can the Royals respond from midweek mauling?
Reading have been in abysmal form in recent months. Coinciding with a points deduction, the Royals have picked up just two wins since mid-October. They are only three points above the relegation zone in 22nd.
Kidderminster Harriers of the National League North knocked Reading out of the FA Cup last weekend. Veljko Paunovic’s men followed that up with an embarrassing 7-0 home league defeat to Fulham in the week.
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These are testing times for Reading, who were a Premier League outfit not so long ago. They desperately need to start picking up points, but they head to the Riverside as the big 11/2 underdogs with the bookies.
Middlesbrough vs Reading Betting Advice
These two sides are heading in opposite directions, but Reading did manage to beat Middlesbrough when the duo squared off at the Select Car Leasing Stadium earlier in the season. It was a tight game in Berkshire, with Alen Halilovic’s goal ten minutes into the second half giving the home team a narrow 1-0 win.
Last season, Boro picked up four points from the two meetings. After a goalless draw at the Riverside, goals from Ashley Fletcher and Marc Bola earned a 2-0 victory in Reading.
Key Facts – Middlesbrough vs Reading Betting Tip
- Middlesbrough have won four league and cup games on the bounce
- Reading are only three points above the drop zone
- The Royals nicked a 1-0 win in the reverse match
Middlesbrough have won six and drawn one of their past seven in all competitions, and Wilder’s side should have no problems in this one. Reading were humiliated by Fulham in midweek, crashing to a heavy 7-0 home reverse. Back Middlesbrough to win to nil on Saturday at 5/4.
Slovenian Andraz Sporar has made a big impact at the Riverside, netting six Championship goals. Sporar has scored in each of his last three outings, and the 27-year-old is available at 5/1 to open the scoring in this one.
The best betting odds for Middlesbrough vs Reading
Middlesbrough to win: 1/2 at Bet365
Draw: 10/3 at Bet365
Reading to win: 11/2 at Bet365
