League strugglers Middlesbrough travel to the Madejski on Tuesday night to take on Reading in a 6pm kick-off.
The away side will be hoping they can take all three points home from the Madejski, to increase their current two-point gap from the relegation zone, and push them towards safety.
Last time the two sides met Middlesbrough did just that, with a goal from Marvin Johnson being enough to see off Reading 1-0 in September.
However, since then Reading have consolidated themselves in the middle of the table, whilst Middlesbrough have been left on the brink of relegation having won just three of their last 17 games.
Despite a poor recent run of results, there is one stat that is on Boro’s side and that is that they have won their last six meetings with Reading, going all the way back to 2015.
Neil Warnock’s striker, Britt Assombalonga, will be hoping he can increase that statistic to seven games, as well as increasing his own goal tally to 10.
Assombalonga has scored three of his goals this season in the last four games, most recently finding the back of the net against Bristol City, in his team's 3-1 defeat on Saturday.
Reading will have some statistics of their own on their minds though, as they search for their fourth consecutive clean sheet and try to end the curse that is always losing to Boro.
Neither team has any new injury concerns, or suspensions so will be sure to put their best sides out in the bid to finish the season on a high.
The visitors will have their destiny in their own hands as they travel down south searching for three points against Bowen’s boys in their fight for survival, but for me a draw is probably more realistic.
Match Preview written by Sophie Reynolds.
Comments