Reading 0 - 2 Middlesbrough

The number of clean sheets, or matches a team has without conceding a single goal, in a competition is a strong indicator of how well their defence is playing. The more times a team can completely keep their opponents from scoring, the more likely it is the team’s actual ability rather than just random chance.

We keep track of all the clean sheet information here, and these are the stats for Reading vs Middlesbrough:

• Reading has played 46 matches and kept opponents from scoring a single goal in 17 of them. In other words, they have kept a clean sheet in 37% of their matches.
• In 23 home matches in the Championship, Reading has had 8 matches without conceding a goal. Middlesbrough has played 46 matches and has shut out opponents on 13 occasions. That means they have held clean sheets in 28% of their matches.
• In 23 home matches played in the Championship, Middlesbrough has had 5 matches without conceding a single goal. And away from home, they have a 22% clean sheet rate as the visiting side.

If both clubs have a high rate of keeping clean sheets, then there’s a decent chance of seeing a low-scoring battle between two strong defensive clubs. But for matches between clubs with low rates of clean sheets, then it’s fair to expect a goal or two.