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Middlesbrough - Reading
England Championship - Riverside
Prediction 1
Middlesbrough to win
1/2 (1.50)
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Odds from
Prediction 2
Over 2.5 goals
4/5 (1.80)
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Odds from
* Betting odds were correct at the time of publication but are subject to change.
Here we bring you Championship predictions for Middlesbrough vs Reading with the game due to take place on 4th March.
Middlesbrough vs Reading prediction and top betting tips
Middlesbrough will need to put together an almighty winning run between now and the end of the season if they're to sneak into the top two. Can they bounce back from defeat last time out to kickstart that run here? Find out with our Middlesbrough vs Reading match preview with free tips, predictions and odds mentioned along the way.
Contents
- 1 Middlesbrough vs Reading prediction and top betting tips
- 2 Here are the key stats & form guide for Middlesbrough vs Reading
- 3 Check out the predicted lineups ahead of Middlesbrough vs Reading
- 4 Middlesbrough vs Reading Line ups
- 5 Player to watch
- 6 Take a look at the latest standings
- 7 A quickfire FAQ on Middlesbrough – Reading
Middlesbrough vs Reading Prediction 1: Middlesbrough to win
We kick off our predictions for this game by backing Middlesbrough to win. Boro lost last time out, which dented their ambitions for an automatic promotion spot, but regardless of that, their form is vastly superior to that of Reading hence we see Michael Carrick's men winning this match. Middlesbrough have won each of their last six league games at home whilst Reading have lost each of their last five on the road and are winless in seven! On top of that, Middlesbrough dominate the head to head history with five wins in the last six meetings between the sides at the Riverside – the blemish on that six game run was a draw meaning Reading haven't won an away game at Boro since 2014!
Middlesbrough vs Reading Prediction 2: Over 2.5 goals
Our next tip for this game comes from the total goals market and we're expecting this match to be a high scoring one as we back over 2.5 goals. Middlesbrough have gone north of the 2.5 mark in four of their last five games with a total of 17 goals seen; that gives them a game average of 3.4 per match. Reading meanwhile have seen three of their last five games go over the 2.5 cut off with a total of 13 goals; that is a game average of 2.6 goals. Three of the last five head to head meetings at Middlesbrough's home ground have ended north of the 2.5 marker too.
Here are the key stats & form guide for Middlesbrough vs Reading
Head to Head
04/03/23
England Championship CHA
Middlesbrough
Reading
5
0
15/01/22
England Championship CHA
Middlesbrough
Reading
2
1
25/09/21
England Championship CHA
Reading
Middlesbrough
1
0
20/02/21
England Championship CHA
Reading
Middlesbrough
0
2
17/10/20
England Championship CHA
Middlesbrough
Reading
0
0
Last Five - Reading
12/04/25
England League 1 League 1
Northampton
Reading
0
0
D
08/04/25
England League 1 League 1
Shrewsbury
Reading
1
3
W
05/04/25
England League 1 League 1
Wycombe
Reading
0
1
W
01/04/25
England League 1 League 1
Blackpool
Reading
3
0
L
29/03/25
England League 1 League 1
Peterborough
Reading
1
3
W
Last Five - Middlesbrough
12/04/25
England Championship CHA
Millwall
Middlesbrough
1
0
L
08/04/25
England Championship CHA
Leeds
Middlesbrough
1
0
L
04/04/25
England Championship CHA
Blackburn
Middlesbrough
0
2
W
29/03/25
England Championship CHA
Oxford Utd
Middlesbrough
1
2
W
15/03/25
England Championship CHA
Luton
Middlesbrough
0
0
D
So, that gives you some insight to how the different bookmakers see the action unfolding. How though do the Middlesbrough vs Reading odds translate into probability ahead of this game? Let's find out.
Middlesbrough odds: 1/2 (1.50) – 67%
Draw odds: 16/5 (4.20) – 24%
Reading odds: 16/3 (6.33) – 16%
As you can see from the above odds, Middlesbrough are massively fancied to win this game and, based on recent form, it's hard to disagree with the view the bookies are taking. In fact, even with odds as short as 1/2 (1.50) on offer, we still believe that's pretty good value considering how contrasted these two sides are. Not all markets are as cut and dry as the match result market though. The over/under 2.5 goals market sees both ‘over' and ‘under' priced odds on.
If, unlike us, you are unconvinced by the value on offer from these bookmakers odds then a host of other predictions are available through our football betting tips today page, which brings you fresh football predictions from across the world every single day.
Check out the predicted lineups ahead of Middlesbrough vs Reading
Middlesbrough
Defeat last time hurt Middlesbrough but they've got more than enough in their squad to bounce back here. Paddy McNair went off injured in that game with a head injury and remains a doubt for this encounter whilst Matt Clarke is still a couple of weeks away from fitness. That means we'll probably see Dael Fry come into the XI. Other than that, it could be an unchanged side.
Predicted lineup – Steffen, Giles, Lenihan, Fry, Smith, Hackney, Howson, McGree, Akpom, Forss, Archer
Reading
Reading all but killed any fear of getting sucked into the relegation dogfight last time out with a win over lowly Blackpool in a game which saw Tom Ince bag a brace and Andy Carroll score from the spot. With confidence high after that result, we're expecting more of the same here.
Predicted lineup – Lumley, Mbengue, Dann, Sarr, McIntyre, Casadei, Hendrick, Meite, Ince, Hoilett, Carroll
Middlesbrough vs Reading Line ups
Middlesbrough
Reading
*Starting lineups are usually announced one hour prior to kick off.
Player to watch
It doesn't matter the week or the opposition, if Chuba Akpom is on the field of play then he is the man to watch – without question. He didn't score last time out but still boasts a recent goal return of six goals in his last six appearances. Reading's defence, which has been far from watertight on the road of late, will need to watch out.
Take a look at the latest standings
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | +/- | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Leeds | 42 | 25 | 13 | 4 | 53 | 88 |
| 2 |  Burnley | 42 | 24 | 16 | 2 | 44 | 88 |
| 3 |  Sheff Utd | 42 | 26 | 7 | 9 | 24 | 83 |
| 4 |  Sunderland | 42 | 21 | 13 | 8 | 19 | 76 |
| 5 |  Bristol City | 42 | 16 | 16 | 10 | 9 | 64 |
| 6 |  Coventry | 42 | 18 | 9 | 15 | 5 | 63 |
| 7 |  West Brom | 42 | 14 | 18 | 10 | 12 | 60 |
| 8 | Middlesbrough | 42 | 17 | 9 | 16 | 10 | 60 |
| 9 |  Millwall | 42 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 0 | 60 |
| 10 |  Blackburn | 42 | 16 | 8 | 18 | 0 | 56 |
| 11 |  Watford | 42 | 16 | 8 | 18 | -5 | 56 |
| 12 |  Swansea | 42 | 15 | 9 | 18 | -6 | 54 |
| 13 |  Norwich | 42 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 5 | 53 |
| 14 |  Sheff Wed | 42 | 14 | 11 | 17 | -8 | 53 |
| 15 |  QPR | 42 | 12 | 14 | 16 | -6 | 50 |
| 16 |  Preston | 42 | 10 | 19 | 13 | -8 | 49 |
| 17 |  Oxford Utd | 42 | 12 | 12 | 18 | -17 | 48 |
| 18 |  Stoke | 42 | 11 | 14 | 17 | -11 | 47 |
| 19 |  Portsmouth | 42 | 12 | 10 | 20 | -16 | 46 |
| 20 |  Hull | 42 | 11 | 12 | 19 | -9 | 45 |
| 21 |  Derby | 42 | 11 | 10 | 21 | -10 | 43 |
| 22 |  Cardiff | 42 | 9 | 15 | 18 | -21 | 42 |
| 23 |  Luton | 42 | 10 | 10 | 22 | -26 | 40 |
| 24 |  Plymouth | 42 | 9 | 13 | 20 | -38 | 40 |
A quickfire FAQ on Middlesbrough – Reading
- Where is the match being played? – Riverside
- Who do the bookmakers have as favourites? – Middlesbrough
- What time does the match kick off? 3 PM GMT
- What was Middlesbrough's last result? Boto suffered the ignominy of a 2-0 defeat in their last Championship outing. The defeat ended their five-match winning run and they have to start afresh to keep pace with the top two. Burnley might be out of their reach but Sheffield United with their precarious form are not.
- What was Reading's last result? The Royals registered their second win in three matches in their last league outing. They entertained Blackpool at the Medjeski Stadium and ran riot to their contentment. Tom Ince was their hero on the night, scoring a well-time brace to compliment Andy CArroll's effort. For the visitors, Sonny Carey scored in the fourth minute of added time.
