Middlesbrough vs Reading Betting Tips & Predictions

Middlesbrough’s promotion bid looks to be firmly back on track as we hit the business end of the season. They have won their last 4 league games and are aiming to complete a hat-trick of home wins in the space of 8 days when they host Reading here. They were 3-0 winners at the Riverside against Huddersfield last Tuesday before a hard fought 1-0 victory against Preston at the weekend. More importantly than going top they will go 7 points clear of 3rd place Brighton with a win here and with a game against bottom club Bolton at the weekend they could have one foot in the Premier League by this time next week if they can collect maximum points.

Reading have very little to play for which could be good news for Boro. The Royals were beaten 2-0 at home by Birmingham on Saturday and there might be one or two players who are starting to think about their summer holidays while the management will be contemplating how to build towards next season. They are in 14th place and could move into the top half with an unlikely win here but it is hard to see that happening given they have lost 10 of their last 13 away league games and their only recent wins on the road were against the bottom two clubs.

5 of those defeats were to nil and up against the league’s meanest defence they may struggle to create very much. Middlesbrough have won to nil in all of their last 3 home matches and on 12 occasions in the league at the Riverside this term. Therefore there looks to be great value in backing Middlesbrough to win to nil at 8/5 here.