Middlesbrough vs Reading Predictions

• Middlesbrough have won their last six home Championship matches.
• Reading have lost each of their last four away league matches without scoring.
• Boro have won three of their last four home league games to nil.

Boro usually bounce back with a win

Middlesbrough are reliable home performers and can bounce back from last weekend’s loss to West Brom with a win against Reading at the Riverside Stadium. Michael Carrick has yet to oversee back-to-back defeats since taking charge of the Teessiders earlier this season with his team responding well to their setbacks against Burnley and Sunderland in December and January.

The visit of the Royals to the Riverside could not be better timed as far as Boro are concerned because Paul Ince’s men possess the division’s joint-worst away record over the last four road trips.

Reading have failed to score a goal in those visits to WBA, Stoke, Sunderland and Cardiff while their last goal on the road – against Norwich in late December – came via a very soft penalty award. Ince’s side won well against his former club Blackpool last week, but there is a big gulf in form and class between the Seasiders and the Teesiders.

Carrick’s club are capable of a clean sheet

Backing Boro to win in the match result market is a solid play, but it is hardly going to set the pulse racing at shorter than 1/2. It should prove fruitful to take Carrick’s side to keep a clean sheet too as they have often done so when given a full week to prepare for a home game.

There is likely to be some disruption to the hosts’ defence because of Paddy McNair’s injury, but Dael Fry is a capable deputy who was a regular starter not that long ago.

A 2-0 home win is the preferred correct score play here as Reading have conceded around 1.75 goals per away game since the start of October while Boro are averaging 2.28 goals per home game since Carrick slid into the manager’s seat that same month.