Middlesbrough away Saturday. Predictions and viewpoints

[Huntley & Palmer]

Well, seeing as the furore surrounding FA Cup replays and Arsenal away seems to have distracted the vast majority of this board. I thought I would start the most important thread for the coming weekend.

Going to be a tough test up at Boro, their home record is excellent having only lost to Pompey, Blackburn and Man U. I for one would be hugely pleased with a point in this fixture, especially as Duberry looks to be taking the place of Bikey following his omission from the reserve fixture this evening.

I'm going to go for a 1-1 with Lita scoring our goal.

This is the team that started against Chelsea in their last league game

Middlesbro: Schwarzer ,Davies ,Xavier ,Pogatetz ,Taylor ,Morrison (Euell ,73 ) ,Boateng ,Arca (Rochemback ,84 ) ,Downing ,Viduka (Christie ,84 ) ,Yakubu
Subs not used Jones,Hines,

Downing is in a rich vein of form currently, whilst the physical presence of Yakubu and Viduka up front will pose problems for our centre pairing. Could be quite a scrap in the midfield with Boateng squaring off against Sidwell.

Reading should be unchanged with the exception of Duberry replacing Bikey and hopefully Kitson replacing Long who moves to the bench. Possibly Halford to make his debut as a substitute unless Coppell hands Gunnarsson the space after his performance against Utd

Reading: Hahnemann ,Murty ,Bikey ,Ingimarsson ,Shorey ,Little (Oster ,77 ) ,Harper ,Sidwell ,Hunt ,Lita ,Long (Kitson ,62)
Subs not used: Federici,De la Cruz,Duberry,

[floyd__streete]

1-0 defeat in a drab game I fear.

[Only one Trevor Morley]

Probably 0-0. Duberry bedding in well. Lita going off the boil.

[79Royal]

My heart says 2-1 Reading, my head says a 1-1 draw.

Viduka (23) Kitson (78)

[Blue and White Toucan]

Tricky game but with our confidence we should be OK.

I think Boro beating Bolton was a fluke result and apart from that they have struggled against WBA and Bristol City and Hull !!!!

We should be positive on this one, none of this LoLawrenson 1-1 crap !!

I am going for 2-0 with Lita and Kitson scoring.

If Forster can score against them then we certainly can !!!!!!!

[Fred Sharpe's Nose]

My left elbow hopes the players aren't as distracted by the replay and Oliver Holt as this board has been ---

but we're due a shocker anyway, 2-1

[Silver Fox]

3-0 Kitson hat-trick

[T.R.O.L.I.]

1-0 Kitson (with a deflection of Riggott)

[Muzzy]

I think we could win this one. All away games will be difficult but we have a decent chance of getting 3 points from this one.

Looking forward to the game. Am NOT looking forward to the jouney

[NottsRoyal]

I think we could win this one. All away games will be difficult but we have a decent chance of getting 3 points from this one.

Looking forward to the game. Am NOT looking forward to the jouney

I'm not looking forward to the Journey either and I noly have to travel from Nottingham.

However, I think we can win this one I'll go for a 2:1 win to us. Lets see what Lawrenson predicts first though.

[LoyalRoyal22]

Middlesbrough 1-1 Reading.

[3 veesinarow]

I'm going for an optimistic 2-1 with Lita and Kitson scoring...not looking forward to the journey at all, but it'll be helped out by an overnight stay in York on the way back down...anyone heading for Doctor Brown's in Boro' before the game?

[Huntley & Palmer]

After 4 hours on a train, I'll go anywhere for a beer

[starbug]

famous last words and all that but I'm not overly concerned about Viduka & Yakubu. When they're on form they look world class but thats only a couple of times a season.

I'm taking a Boro fan with me at the weekend and forcing him to sit in the away end (its not like we're going to sell out...) so would love a win but would take a diplomatic 1-1 draw and keep our unbeaten run going.

[higher]

Odds bet 365 (wed pm):

Middlesbrough 5/4
Draw 11/5
Reading 21/10

Middlesbrough Win

1-0 6/1
2-0 8/1
2-1 8/1
3-0 18/1
3-1 18/1
3-2 28/1
4-0 66/1
4-1 50/1
4-2 80/1

Match Draw

0-0 15/2
1-1 11/2
2-2 12/1
3-3 50/1

Reading Win

1-0 7/1
2-0 14/1
2-1 10/1
3-0 40/1
3-1 25/1
3-2 33/1
Half Time/Full Time

Middlesbrough - Middlesbrough 11/4
Middlesbrough - Draw 14/1
Middlesbrough - Reading 33/1
Draw - Middlesbrough 9/2
Draw - Draw 15/4
Draw - Reading 6/1
Reading - Middlesbrough 28/1
Reading - Draw 14/1
Reading - Reading 9/2

[noise]

Middlesbrough drawing with Bristol and then West Brom (ok they are good), I can see them getting goals, but I have a feeling we will get them too. 2-2

[bassavage]

Boro 1

Yakubu 28

Reading 2

Woodgate o.g. 10
Harper 53

[lozz2601]

1-0 Kitson (with a deflection of Riggott)

[Petercccccc]

5.0 Reading

Where just to consistantly good.

[seahawk10]

I will go 2 - 0 Reading.

Sidwell (40), Kitson (88 )