The Royals make the long trip North to Middlesbrough on Saturday, looking to continue a run of 8 wins in 9 games in the league. A win would take us above Boro and continue a late push for the play offs, a full match preview is here….
Vital Quotes:
Royals manager Brian McDermott –
‘There`s no way that we`re going to keep on beating teams three or four nil the way we have done. The other night Neil Warnock set his team up a certain way and it was a physical game, they made it difficult. Did we play the kind of free-flowing passing football that we want to play? No, but we did show resilience, character, desire and in the end we got the result.’
Out of favour striker Grzegorz Rasiak –
‘I`m never happy when I don`t start the games, but it is important for me to get my minutes and score goals. Everybody would like to play, but there can only be 11. I want to show everything on the pitch.’
Striker Simon Church –
‘Confidence is very high at the moment. The last couple of home games we have had, we have put in very good perfromances and got a good couple of results as well.’
Middlesbrough Team News:
Rhys Williams will miss the game through suspension following his red card in midweek, whilst Kyle Naughton is a doubt with a knee injury. Willo Flood, Emanuel Pogatetz and Jeremie Aliadiere are all out injured and will miss this game, whilst Seb Hines, Tony McMahon and Matthew Bates are all long term injury victims.
Player to watch: Barry Robson
The former Celtic player has hit a good run of goalscoring form and will be keen to continue that against the Royals. Will play in midfield with Gary O’Neil to form an excellent partnership for Championship level.
Reading Team News:
The Royals have no new injury concerns to worry about but Brian McDermott has a number of selection headaches after a brilliant run of form. Grzegorz Rasiak and Simon Church both came off the bench to inspire the late win over QPR and are pushing for first team recalls.
Andy Griffin came through the midweek game unscathed after his hamstring injury and will again keep his place at right back, meaning Brynjar Gunnarsson will be on the bench.
Player to watch: Matt Mills
Has apologised for his very public show of frustration during the QPR game and will be keen to prove that on the pitch against Boro. Has been a rock at the back since Brian McDermott put him into the side and will be keen to continue that to make it a good end to a difficult week for the former Doncaster man.
Last Meeting
Saturday 3rd October 2009, Reading 0-2 Middlesbrough. Madejski Stadium
Ref Watch:
Andy Hall from the West Midlands will take charge of this game. His only Royals game this season came in the 4-1 defeat by QPR back in October, when he sent off Ivar Ingimarsson as well as Rangers Ben Watson.
Match Prediction:
8 wins out of 9 in a fantastic record and makes us the form team in the division but a lot of those games have been at home. We seem to struggle up North and Boro are desperate for a win to rekindle their own play off aspirations, so I’m afraid I think it will be a home win 2-1.
Next Fixtures:
Wednesday 24th March 2010, Leicester (A)
