MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a)

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Sutekh
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MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a)

by Sutekh » 11 Jan 2022 23:12




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)

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royalp-we
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a)

by royalp-we » 11 Jan 2022 23:13

:cry:

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Snowflake Royal
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a)

by Snowflake Royal » 11 Jan 2022 23:16

Picking a team might be tricky


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

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

:o

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NathStPaul
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a)

by NathStPaul » 11 Jan 2022 23:24

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

Simmops
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a)

by Simmops » 12 Jan 2022 07:08

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


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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a)

by Hound » 12 Jan 2022 07:30

Going to get smashed aren’t we?

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a)

by SCIAG » 12 Jan 2022 07:33

Snowflake Royal Picking a team might be tricky


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

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

:o

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

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Snowflake Royal
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a)

by Snowflake Royal » 12 Jan 2022 07:39

SCIAG
Snowflake Royal Picking a team might be tricky


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

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

:o

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.

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Zip
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a)

by Zip » 12 Jan 2022 08:30

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


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Snowflake Royal
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a)

by Snowflake Royal » 12 Jan 2022 08:31

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

He definitely is.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a)

by SCIAG » 12 Jan 2022 08:33

Snowflake Royal
SCIAG
Snowflake Royal Picking a team might be tricky


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

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

:o

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.

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Snowflake Royal
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a)

by Snowflake Royal » 12 Jan 2022 08:34

SCIAG
Snowflake Royal
SCIAG 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.

Don't see us trying very hard either.

SCIAG
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a)

by SCIAG » 12 Jan 2022 11:10

Snowflake Royal
SCIAG
Snowflake Royal 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.

But at least we have good luck.


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John Smith
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a)

by John Smith » 12 Jan 2022 12:04

Snowflake Royal Ashcroft, Laurent, Holmes, Bristow

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!

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genome
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a)

by genome » 12 Jan 2022 12:08

Just the 6 wins in 7 for Boro :?

Hound
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a)

by Hound » 12 Jan 2022 12:13

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

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a)

by Mid Sussex Royal » 12 Jan 2022 12:56

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

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Snowflake Royal
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a)

by Snowflake Royal » 12 Jan 2022 13:12

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

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

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a)

by URZZZZ » 12 Jan 2022 14:34

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

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 :roll:

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Jagermesiter1871
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a)

by Jagermesiter1871 » 12 Jan 2022 14:55

Quite looking forward to this.

When are Joao and Meite due back?

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