Eng. Championship
2011-10-01 - Reading vs Middlesbrough
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football : English Championship
Saturday 1 October 2011 - Kickoff 3pm
Reading
Reading were considered one of the leading contenders to earn promotion this season after coming so close last season when losing in the Play Off Final to Swansea. They seemed to begin this season with a negative reaction from that loss, but we have seen a change in their fortunes when they came from 2-0 down to beat Bristol City 2-3 last time out.
The team moved up to 14th in the Championship thanks to that win over the Robins, and their 11 points gained so far means they are only 8 points behind the early pacesetters in the League. Reading will look to improve their form at the Majedski Stadium where they are 1-1-2 this season, scoring 5 goals and conceding 6.
Reading are unbeaten in their last 3 games, winning 2 of them, after a run of 5 consecutive defeats in all competitions. They beat Doncaster in their last home game, but had lost back to back games here before that against some of the lesser lights in the League in the form of Barnsley and Watford.
Jordan Obita and Jimmy Kebe are likely to be missing for the Royals.
Middlesbrough
While Reading were expected to be contending for promotion, Middlesbrough were not such a popular pre-season pick considering they have spent no money in the squad during the Summer. However, Tony Mowbray has his side picking up the results early in this campaign.
Middlesbrough are 2nd in the Championship after picking up 19 points from their opening 9 games and they remain unbeaten in the League. They are only prevented from taking top spot thanks to an inferior goal difference to Southampton. Boro have won all 4 away games played this season in the League, scoring 7 goals and conceding 1.
They have failed to win any of their last 3 games in all competitions, and they have drawn their last 2 games in the League, both at the Riverside, in goalless contests. Middlesbrough lost 2-1 at Crystal Palace in the Carling Cup in their last away game, but they have won their last 3 away games without conceding a goal.
Rhys Williams will be a late decision after being ill for much of the week. Seb Hines is training again, but is unlikely to be included until after the international break.
Head to Head
Reading and Middlesbrough were involved in 2 high scoring contests last season, both of which resulted in the home side earning the win.
The game at the Majedski ended 5-2 to Reading, their first win in 3 home games against Middlesbrough.
Prediction
I feel this will be one of the games in the Championship that we will see a few goals as both sides are capable of finding the net and will be looking to increase their records.
Reading have been in better form of late, and the come from behind win at Bristol City would have given the entire squad a lift. They have scored 6 goals in their last 3 League games and may be getting used to life without Shane Long who has moved to West Brom.
Middlesbrough have shown they are capable of scoring goals away from home, and they could have had more goals in their last 2 games with a bit more luck.
Their games last season produced a large number of goals and I will back this game to end 'Over 2.5 Goals'.
The Pick :
Reading 2-2 Middlesbrough
