H2H: Middlesbrough vs Reading - Prediction (Championship

Preview and Teams Comparison.

Chuba Akpom could become the first Boro player since 1919 to score in each of his first three appearances for the club following his running start. Lucas João scored five of Reading’s ten goals in all competitions so far this term, including one in both of their away league victories. Neil Warnock boasts a poor 24% career win-rate against Reading (W6, D5, L14), with four of his last five fixture defeats coming without reply.

Middlesbrough Insights.

Neil Warnock’s Middlesbrough enjoyed a solid start to the league campaign given the calibre of opponents thus far (W1, D2, L1). Notably though, Warnock’s appointment has given their often lacklustre games a breath of air, with eight of 12 league games since seeing both teams score (W5, D2, L5), in comparison to 17 of the previous 38. The 2-1 victory last time out here was Middlesbrough’s first home league win under Warnock at the fifth attempt (W1, D1, L3). The Boro head into this as favourites, although they have not been convincing across the last 19 home league games when fancied. Indeed, they own just a 31.58% win-rate (W6, D7, L6) when favoured to win, and failed to keep a clean sheet in the last nine (W1, D4, L4).

Reading Insights.

Visiting Reading enjoy a perfect start to Championship life under new manager Veljko Paunović (W4), and their perfect four-game start puts them at least seven points better off than at this stage of any of their second-tier campaigns across the last decade. Moreover, they scored the opening goal in all league victories so far. Reading are in a minority of sides who picked up more than half of their points since the start of last season away from home (54.41%). As such, they will not mind their underdog status as they boast a: W10, D7, L8, record as away outsiders since 2019/20 (68% W/D rate). Notably, six of those victories came without reply whilst just two saw them overturn a deficit.