Middlesbrough will go top of the Championship if they beat
Reading at the Riverside tonight.
It is Boro’s third home game in a row after the fixture, originally
scheduled in February, was rearranged due to Reading’s FA Cup commitments.
Aitor Karanka’s side ground up a 1-0 victory over Preston on
Saturday and after the game goal scorer Albert Adomah admitted his side were nervous
in the second half.
Even so the Boro boss chose to look at the positives saying “even
when we were nervous we were still really really confident, together we fight
for every ball”.
Karanka admitted that Boro were fortunate to hang on against
a strong and direct Preston side and confessed “in the second half they were
better than us”.
He expressed the difficulty of playing a third consecutive
game at home in the space of just seven days, however he couldn’t hide away
from the ‘massive’ opportunity Boro now have with just six game to go.
Boro have had games in hand earlier in the season but have
failed to capitalise on them. A victory would move them a point ahead of
leaders Burnley and four clear of third place Brighton with five left to play.
Team News
Boro didn’t sustain any new injury problems in their victory
over Preston on Saturday. Adam Clayton started that game on the bench, due to a
dead leg, but should return.
Garath McCleary and striker Deniss Rakels were fit enough to
start on the bench in Reading’s 2-0 defeat at home to Birmingham. Forward Hal
Robson-Kanu and midfielder Aaron Tshibola remain out with leg and hamstring
injuries respectively.
The Opposition
At the start of the season it looked like Reading could
mount a decent challenge for at least a play-off spot. However those thoughts
are long gone.
After slipping down into mid-table Steve Clarke was sacked
in early December and replaced by Brian McDermott, who returned to the club he achieved
promotion with in 2012.
Since then the Royals’ best results have come in the FA Cup,
however their run was ended Crystal Palace at the quarter final stage last
month.
Since McDermott was reappointed Reading have won six, drew
six and lost seven in the league. They beat Bolton and Nottingham Forest back
to back before losing to Birmingham on Saturday. That result left them 14th
in the league on 51 points.
One To Watch
Oliver Norwood
Only full back Chris Gunter has played more minutes for
Reading than the Northern Irish midfielder this season.
Norwood’s main job is usually to protect the back four;
however he has also contributed with three goals and six assists this campaign.
He is comfortable on the ball and rarely gives away
possession. His goals are usually spectacular ones, as he is a fine striker of
the ball and can’t be given time on the edge of the area.
Last Time Out
Reading 2
Middlesbrough 0
Boro bumped into Reading at just the wrong time when the
sides met at the Madejski Stadium at the start of October. The Royals were in
fine form having won four of their last five league games, they took the lead
after just 15 seconds when Danny Williams headed in Hal Robson-Kanu’s cross.
Boro almost equalised when Stewart Downing’s shot was saved
by Ali Al-Habsi. However the points were sealed when Fernando Amorebieta fouled
Nick Blackman in the penalty area and the striker converted the spot kick in
the 88th minute.
Team I Would Play
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| (Picture from Gazette Boro) |
At this stage of the season Karanka has to play his strongest team. There are no injuries, that we know of, so Boro have to give everything to try and win this game, as it would put them in a commanding position at the top with five games to go.
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