Middlesbrough boss believes Reading are Championship title contenders

Middlesbrough target top spot in the Championship as they visit Reading this weekend, but they require a positive result against the side now just below them in the table. Can you win the league?

“That doesn’t really say anything at this stage of the season”, Clarke said.

Boro’s 3-0 thumping of Leeds last weekend means that they have won their last five Championship fixtures in a rowand the firepower contained in Karanka’s strike-force of Kike, David Nugent, Stuani and Diego Fabbrini (a combined 12 goals thus far) is above and beyond that possessed by any other side in the division.

“It was a great start to score in 15 seconds and we’ve made a habit of starting games quickly in recent weeks and getting in front”.

“We have to go into the games always thinking we are going to win”, Karanka told the Evening Gazette.

Tomorrow sees second placed Middlesbrough travel to Reading for what promises to the be the game of the afternoon in the Championship, and for Boro boss Aitor Karanka, it sees his side come up against a team he believes could be crowned as champions come the end of the season. Hal Robson-Kanu’s cross ending up on the head of Danny Williams to give us a massive early advantage.

Although Boro quickly recovered their composure, Reading should have 2-0 ahead.

Boro responded with a low, well struck free-kick from Stewart Downing before half-time but home goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi, despite being unsighted, made a sprawling save.

While not enjoying much of the ball, Reading still had the better of the chances, seeing one cleared off the line and several long-range efforts whizz past the woodwork.

Lucas Piazon had a shot blocked, after a smart touch from Blackman, before Blackman nodded wide from an Oliver Norwood corner. Last time out they scored two goals in the opening 10 minutes to beat Burnley away. “Both sides have a few similarities, both are organised and both have very good players”.