MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a)

[Sutekh]

When : Saturday, 4 March 2023, 3pm
Where : Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough, Cleveland, TS3 6RS
Capacity: 34,472

Reading take their “special needs” away form up to the north east for the second time in a couple of weeks. This forgone conclusion will need a miracle of biblical proportions however as not only is the monumentally cr@p away form a hindrance but also the fact that Middlesbrough are rather good at kicking the round plasticky thing into the big netty thing at either end of the pitch.

Form for Jack Charlton’s former team is pretty good with 14 wins from the last 21 league games and 15 points from the last 18 available. On top of that the ‘boro carry the league’s leading scorer in Chuba Akpom who has 19 goals in 24(3) league appearances so far which is likely to be more than enough hassle for Reading’s defenders to try and stop on the day without forcing them to multi-task and have to watch the likes of Jonny Howson, Riley McGree, Duncan Watmore and Michael Forss as well.

Reading will be without the services of Joe Lumley as he is on loan from Middlesbrough but Tom Holmes and Ovie Ejaria maybe available to the squad after injury. Andy Yiadom will also be back after suspension. Middlesbrough will have a doubt over Paddy McNair while Matt Clarke has a back injury and misses out.

Referee

Keith Stroud

Previously....

17 Aug 2022 > Reading 3-0 Blackburn Rovers
02 Apr 2022 > Barnsley 1-1 Reading
19 Dec 2020 > Brentford 3-1 Reading
07 Nov 2020 > Reading 0-3 Stoke City
08 Jan 2020 > Millwall 2-0 Reading
28 Sep 2019 > Swansea City 1-1 Reading
05 May 2019 > Reading 0-0 Birmingham City
10 Apr 2019 > Norwich City 2-2 Reading
27 Oct 2018 > Swansea City 2-0 Reading
28 Apr 2018 > Reading 0-4 Ipswich Town
02 Dec 2017 > Sunderland 1-3 Reading
04 Nov 2017 > Derby County 2-4 Reading
01 Apr 2017 > Reading 1-0 Leeds United
14 Feb 2017 > Reading 3-2 Brentford
19 Nov 2016 > Reading 3-0 Burton Albion
28 Dec 2015 > Reading 1-2 Brentford
07 Nov 2015 > Cardiff City 2-0 Reading
03 Oct 2015 > Reading 2-0 Middlesbrough
14 Apr 2015 > Reading 0-1 Bournemouth
29 Mar 2014 > Reading 1-1 Huddersfield Town
11 Jan 2014 > Watford 0-1 Reading
13 Aug 2011 > Leicester City 0-2 Reading
03 Apr 2010 > Ipswich Town 2-1 Reading
06 Feb 2010 > Doncaster Rovers 1-2 Reading
29 Dec 2007 > Tottenham Hotspur 6-4 Reading
22 Sep 2007 > Reading 2-1 Wigan Athletic
25 Feb 2006 > Reading 2-1 Preston North End
23 Aug 2005 > Reading 3-1 Swansea City (League Cup)

Historically

Though league games with Middlesbrough stretch back all the way to 1927 they are a bit rare with only 19 played in Middlesbrough to date, most of which have been since the late 80s. Of those 19 Reading haven't done too badly, for a long northern trek to a club that has only ever spent 2 seasons outside of the top 2 divisions, by recording 4 wins to 'boro's 10 however Reading have conceded twice as many as Middlesbrough (28 to 14) in that time.

Since 'boro moved to the Riverside Reading have visited on 14 occasions and won 3 but have lost 9 (including five of the last six visits by one goal).

How to follow the game

1. Get a ticket and go all the way up there
2. Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
3. Ring/text a mate for updates
4. Use a RoyalTV subscription
5. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

[Hound]

Nailed on home win this. Be nice to not try to spend the entire game camped in our own half though

Assume it’ll be much the same team as started vs Blackpool. Yiadom replacing Mbengue

[LUX]

Plus Bouzanis

[Snowflake Royal]

Dropping Mbengue would be a little mad.

[From Despair To Where?]

Plus Bouzanis

How about CBC in goal?

[Snowflake Royal]

Plus Bouzanis

How about CBC in goal?

Bit of a baptism of fire

[YorkshireRoyal99]

I wouldn't actually mind CBC in goal, although I imagine it will still be Bouzanis who has done ok as an understudy this season.

We can't drop Mbengue really, but I suspect he might do and stick with Holmes and Sarr at CB and put Yiadom at RB if we persist with a back 4, although we might revert to a back 5.

[From Despair To Where?]

Plus Bouzanis

How about CBC in goal?

Bit of a baptism of fire

True, but its not just people from within the club bigging him up as a future star. It a bit of a free hit IMO.

Seem odd that we're prepared to bring in keeper's like Virginia and Hein and put them in the first team but not give our own players a chance at the same age. We had to throw players like Young, Ashdown and, to a lesser extent, McCarthy in at the deep end and they did OK.

[Snowflake Royal]

How about CBC in goal?

Bit of a baptism of fire

True, but its not just people from within the club bigging him up as a future star. It a bit of a free hit IMO.

Seem odd that we're prepared to bring in keeper's like Virginia and Hein and put them in the first team but not give our own players a chance at the same age. We had to throw players like Young, Ashdown and, to a lesser extent, McCarthy in at the deep end and they did OK.

19 is still very young for a keeper. I think there's possibly value in a game or two this season, but probably easier opposition nearer the end. Would definitely like to see him get some cup games next season.

[NathStPaul]

Bit of a baptism of fire

True, but its not just people from within the club bigging him up as a future star. It a bit of a free hit IMO.

Seem odd that we're prepared to bring in keeper's like Virginia and Hein and put them in the first team but not give our own players a chance at the same age. We had to throw players like Young, Ashdown and, to a lesser extent, McCarthy in at the deep end and they did OK.

19 is still very young for a keeper. I think there's possibly value in a game or two this season, but probably easier opposition nearer the end. Would definitely like to see him get some cup games next season.

I think it is a shame he didn't get a loan move in January, would have liked him to have been playing regular League 2/National League games.

[kwik-silva]

Nailed on home win this. Be nice to not try to spend the entire game camped in our own half though

Assume it’ll be much the same team as started vs Blackpool. Yiadom replacing Mbengue

Given that Blackpool was a game Ince expected to win, I fully expect us to go back to the 532 in one he does not!

[South Coast Royal]

Dropping Mbengue would be a little mad.

Why?
I thought he struggled positionally on Saturday and Yiadom is our long-standing regular full-back so is surely bound to come back in?

[Hendo]

True, but its not just people from within the club bigging him up as a future star. It a bit of a free hit IMO.

Seem odd that we're prepared to bring in keeper's like Virginia and Hein and put them in the first team but not give our own players a chance at the same age. We had to throw players like Young, Ashdown and, to a lesser extent, McCarthy in at the deep end and they did OK.

19 is still very young for a keeper. I think there's possibly value in a game or two this season, but probably easier opposition nearer the end. Would definitely like to see him get some cup games next season.

I think it is a shame he didn't get a loan move in January, would have liked him to have been playing regular League 2/National League games.

+1. Hopefully he is more involved next season or gets a good loan move.

Wouldn't mind seeing him in the last few games if/when we're mathematically safe.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Dropping Mbengue would be a little mad.

Why?
I thought he struggled positionally on Saturday and Yiadom is our long-standing regular full-back so is surely bound to come back in?

Revert Mbengue back to CB where he's been best for us this season and where he has stood out.

[tidus_mi2]

This is so much of a home banker, I wouldn't be at all surprised if we won.

[Hound]

Dropping Mbengue would be a little mad.

Why?
I thought he struggled positionally on Saturday and Yiadom is our long-standing regular full-back so is surely bound to come back in?

Revert Mbengue back to CB where he's been best for us this season and where he has stood out.

I really like Mbengue and would play him myself, along with NGW and Azeez probably, but Ince favours experience so I’ll expect he’ll be ‘rested - very young to play so many mins in the competitive champ etc etc’

[Mr Angry]

I am expecting a repeat of the last time we were in the North East; a Rourke's Drift of a game, hoping to hang on for a point and if we are lucky, nick a goal on a break or a set piece.

Not likely to be a footballing classic I suggest............

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Why?
I thought he struggled positionally on Saturday and Yiadom is our long-standing regular full-back so is surely bound to come back in?

Revert Mbengue back to CB where he's been best for us this season and where he has stood out.

I really like Mbengue and would play him myself, along with NGW and Azeez probably, but Ince favours experience so I’ll expect he’ll be ‘rested - very young to play so many mins in the competitive champ etc etc’

Yeah I'm expecting that, but hopefully not.

Sometimes I think that's just an easy excuse. Mbengue has proved his worth to the team this season and has shown consistency in his game. He's made errors yes, argument over him being a bit fortunate to be on the pitch on Saturday and the mistake against Birmingham for example, but you could argue he's probably been our second best CB this season, only behind Holmes.

Azeez and NGW have been bright sparks as well at times this season and Casadei I thought stood out with the ball on Saturday as well, sometimes I don't understand the seemingly reluctance to use our young players when they've been out best/most threatening performers sometimes.

[Snowflake Royal]

Dropping Mbengue would be a little mad.

Why?
I thought he struggled positionally on Saturday and Yiadom is our long-standing regular full-back so is surely bound to come back in?

He's been one of our better CBs and is the only one with any real pace.

[Sutekh]

Holmes is only rated at 50/50 for the game as his calf injury isn’t responding to the treatment as it should. Reckon the medical team may need to change to a different dance to resolve the problem.