When : Saturday, 15th January 2022, 3pm
Where : Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough, Cleveland, TS3 6RS

Whether or not Veljko Paunovic makes it to the weekend as manager remains to be seen but either way Reading will be taking their own special interpretation of football up to Teesside on Saturday for what is possibly the hardest fixture for any club in the Championship right now.

Middlesbrough have hit real form having dropped only 2 points in their last 6 league games. This is of course just what Reading need on the back of the dreadful problems banging around the club both on and off the pitch now and so we’ll just have to hope the unacceptable embarrassments experienced in the last two games will not reappear in this one.

Andean Sporar, Matt Crooks, Duncan Watmore and Josh Coburn tend to be the players that do the damage for the reds having amassed 17 goals between them so far. Then there’s a threat from corners to add into the mix as Paddy McNair had bundled 3 into the net so far. And just to add that bit more there’s also the ex-player threat to watch out for in the guise of Uche Ikpeazu and that’s all that without mentioning the more usual “thorn” of Johnny Howson.

Middlesbrough have Marc Bola and Marcus Browne incapacitated for this one while Reading’s ridiculous catalogue of problems continues with, currently, 12 injuries (Azeez, Araruna, Ashcroft, Moore, Dann, Halilovic, Ejaria, McIntyre, Tetek, Morrison, Joao and Meite) and both first choice full backs (Rahman and Yiadom) away at AFCON for the month at least. On the upside it won’t take much more than a sneeze and this could be another game able to be called off!

Note : if an extension isn’t worked out then this game will be Andy Carroll’s last in a Reading shirt.

Referee

James Linington

Previously....

09 Apr 21 > Watford 2-0 Reading
06 Mar 21 > Reading 3-0 Sheffield Wednesday
29 Jan 21 > Reading 3-1 Bournemouth
04 Jul 20 > Luton Town 0-5 Reading
28 Jan 20 > Reading 0-1 Bristol City
26 Dec 19 > Reading 1-0 Queens Park Rangers
03 Aug 19 > Reading 1-3 Sheffield Wednesday
08 Dec 18 > Reading 0-2 Sheffield United
03 Nov 18 > Reading 3-2 Bristol City
06 Mar 18 > Reading 1-1 Bolton Wanderers
02 Jan 18 > Reading 0-2 Birmingham City
09 Sep 17 > Reading 0-1 Bristol City
08 Apr 17 > Norwich City 7-1 Reading
24 Sep 16 > Reading 1-0 Huddersfield Town
21 Nov 15 > Reading 2-1 Bolton Wanderers
02 May 15 > Derby County 0-3 Reading
28 Dec 14 > Reading 2-1 Norwich City
21 Nov 14 > Cardiff City 2-1 Reading
12 Aug 14 > Reading 3-1 Newport County (League Cup)
10 Sep 11 > Reading 0-2 Watford
30 Apr 11 > Coventry City 0-0 Reading
22 Jan 11 > Reading 1-1 Hull City
02 May 10 > Reading 4-0 Preston North End
30 Jan 10 > Reading 1-0 Barnsley

Historically

Though league games with Middlesbrough stretch back all the way to 1927 they are a bit rare with only 18 played in Middlesbrough to date, most of which have been since the late 80s. Of those 18 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 9 however Reading have conceded just over twice as many as Middlesbrough (27 to 13) in that time.

Since 'boro moved to the Riverside Reading have visited on 13 occasions and won 3 but have lost 8 (including four of the last five visits by one goal). On the upside Reading did manage a point last season so are unbeaten in the last one visit.

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)

Picking a team might be tricky


....................Southwood
Ashcroft, Laurent, Holmes, Bristow
..............Rinomhota, Bashiru
Camara..........., Swift, .............Hoilett
..........................Carroll

Andersson, Stickland, Drinkwater, Puscas, Clarke, Ehibhatiomhan, Osorio

Let's hope we go up there and only let in 5. Baby steps....

Depressingly got offered tickets for this from a pal who lives there (well stockton) i went to uni with

Luckily it's in the home end so I might go and support Middlesbrough

I think he was mocking me

Going to get smashed aren’t we?

Have seen neither hide nor hair of Ashcroft or Abrefa in the last few weeks. Think it will be Rinomhota at right back again.

Have seen neither hide nor hair of Ashcroft or Abrefa in the last few weeks. Think it will be Rinomhota at right back again.
Ashcroft was concussed against Derby, but I figure a week may cover the protocol

Should have come off immediately.

We don’t have a single senior defender available unless Holmes is considered to constitute that.

He definitely is.

Have seen neither hide nor hair of Ashcroft or Abrefa in the last few weeks. Think it will be Rinomhota at right back again.
Ashcroft was concussed against Derby, but I figure a week may cover the protocol

Should have come off immediately.
Makes sense.

I don’t think either Ashcroft or Bristow are ready to be playing at this level personally, but needs must. Expecting us to be very exposed down the flanks. And also down the middle. And I don’t think we’ll press very effectively.

Ashcroft was concussed against Derby, but I figure a week may cover the protocol

Should have come off immediately.
Makes sense.

I don’t think either Ashcroft or Bristow are ready to be playing at this level personally, but needs must. Expecting us to be very exposed down the flanks. And also down the middle. And I don’t think we’ll press very effectively.
Don't see us trying very hard either.

Makes sense.

I don’t think either Ashcroft or Bristow are ready to be playing at this level personally, but needs must. Expecting us to be very exposed down the flanks. And also down the middle. And I don’t think we’ll press very effectively.
Don't see us trying very hard either.
But at least we have good luck.

Oh lordy. I thought Tom Holmes was going to get sent off last night as well just before the 6th(?).

We can't even go there and park the bus!

Just the 6 wins in 7 for Boro

Holmes is arguably our 5th choice CB. In reality he is an average champ CB. Pretty desperate times.

Boro have just signed Balagun from Arsenal on loan, he's seriously quick. Hopefully they'll take a few days to integrate him in

He's also arguably 2nd or maybe 3rd given how bad Moore and Morrison have been. Dann has hardly stood out either.

He's also arguably 2nd or maybe 3rd given how bad Moore and Morrison have been. Dann has hardly stood out either.

And McIntyre can’t stay fit for more than 3 games in a row

Quite looking forward to this.

When are Joao and Meite due back?

Who do we fancy to get injured this time around?

I think Reading is some strange glitch in the matrix.

Isn't Carroll normally injured every 5 minutes? Yet now it's pretty much everyone but him.

Either that or he's some sort of sorcerer who has sucked the health of all other players to keep him fit.

Yeah I'm going with that, the first theory is a little far fetched.

The manager

Just don’t think we can afford to use a flat back four again with those two FB’s. We may not have many options but ultimately it’s only swapping one academy player out for another at this stage anyway

I reckon Hoilett could do a job as a wingback temporarily if needs must. And I’d stick Clarke/Puscas up top with Carroll from the start. Midfield much of a muchness at the moment but I’d probably agree with Drinkwater on the bench as he’s so slow on the ball

Just don’t think we can afford to use a flat back four again with those two FB’s. We may not have many options but ultimately it’s only swapping one academy player out for another at this stage anyway

I reckon Hoilett could do a job as a wingback temporarily if needs must. And I’d stick Clarke/Puscas up top with Carroll from the start. Midfield much of a muchness at the moment but I’d probably agree with Drinkwater on the bench as he’s so slow on the ball
I agree, but we don’t have enough centre backs for 2 let alone 3 either.

Any chance at all of any of the injured/unavailable back? Joao must be near. Moore and Ejaria seem to have gone AWOL. Think they’ll prob have to tape a few up and tell them to get on with it.

Hope so as that team above looks wretched

The manager

Ejaria struggling with covid. Moore allegedly absent for uncaptainly behaviour.

The more we rush players straight back into the first team without youth team warm ups and sub appearances the more breakdowns we'll have.

Dear 'boro

Congrats on your sizable win

warmest regards,
The Scorpions

Ejaria struggling with covid. Moore allegedly absent for uncaptainly behaviour.

The more we rush players straight back into the first team without youth team warm ups and sub appearances the more breakdowns we'll have.

Not asking them to start and play 90mins. Ideally see them on the bench though