Boro work the ball down the left with neat, one-touch interplay between Marc Bola and Isaiah Jones, but again makeshift full-back Dejan Tetek steps in to whip the ball away.

Reading are smart in their build up, but given their injuries, just lack a presence up top. Junior Hoilett will run the channels and cause problems but they lack the size of Boro's Andraz Sporar in forward areas to hold the ball up.

Image source, Rex Features

Boro come close to getting in behind as Paddy McNair's raking pass loops beautifully into the stride of Isaiah Jones, but the winger gets the ball stuck under his feet and Dejan Tetek can clear.

Andraz Sporar wins a knock down and Jones gets another chance, but again, Reading sweep up.

Reading's blue and white hoops have been 'complemented' by gold numbers which are a real pain to see at a distance.

Not impressed.

Boro looking to get the ball forward into the channels, but Reading have dealt well so far.

The home side happy to stroke the ball about, calm, cool and poised.

John Swift is at the heart of everything Reading are doing in attack, and dinks a beautiful ball to the back-post.

Marc Bola has to get up to head away with a Reading forward lurking.

Open game so far.

Image source, Rex Features

Middlesbrough come within a whisker of the opener.

Reading fell asleep after a quick throw got Isaiah Jones to the byline and his cross was bulleted in with a header by Matt Crooks.

However, Jones had overrun the ball over the byline and it was chalked off.

Warning shot there for Royals.

Neil Warnock is rocking the 'gilet over a polo' look today on the Boro bench, as he munches on his chewing gum with a face of concentration.

His side are really pressing Reading and force an error at the back to win a throw.

Peter Bankes is the referee.

Reading get us going.

Middlesbrough have an excellent record against Reading, winning eight of their last nine league games and the past four away meetings to boot.

The Royals defensive record will have the Boro attack licking their lips... only Peterborough with 20 have conceded more than their 18 goals shipped so far.

Given Andy Yiadom and Josh Laurent are carrying the defensive can with injuries biting today, Boro might fancy this.

Image source, Getty Images

Neil Warnock has done a great job of turning the tide for Middlesbrough since arriving on a rescue mission at the Riverside Stadium for the back-end of the 2019-20 season.

He kept them up in his initial short-term spell, and led them to mid-table safety last term.

There's just the wins over Bristol City and Nottingham Forest to show for it so far, but Warnock did make some smart signings in Andraz Sporar and Onel Hernandez - and Martin Payero is another the Boro fans are excited about.

They've also got options off the bench, Uche Ikpeazu's awkward, physical style will be a key outlet.

You get the feeling they'll get it right sometime... will it be today?

Image source, Getty Images

There was a fair amount of doom and gloom round Reading at the start of the season with off-the-field financial issues and a transfer embargo, but results have kept them away from trouble at the bottom end so far.

Veljko Paunovic has also had to do without Lucas Joao - last season's chief source of goals with John Swift stepping up to the plate - while today they are also without both centre-halves in Tom Holmes and Michael Morrison.

However, his make do and mend approach this season with players rolling their sleeves up and filling in has fostered a team spirit, even with a points deduction from the EFL seemingly looming on a profit and sustainability basis.

And, finally being able to sign some players also helped... Danny Drinkwater being one of them and getting a shout today.

Reading have named Dejan Tetek and Danny Drinkwater in the starting XI and they make their first league starts of the season.

Middlesbrough restore Argentine star Martin Payero as well as Marc Bola and Paddy McNair to the side, while exciting winger Isaiah Jones comes in.

Reading: Southwood, Yiadom, Tetek, Dele-Bashiru, Baba, Laurent, Swift, Drinkwater, Halilovic, Ejaria, Hoilett.

Subs: Rafael Cabral, Ehibhationham, Stickland, Clarke, Bristow, Sackey, Puscas.

Middlesbrough: Lumley, Peltier, Howson, Fry, Bola, McNair, Crooks, Tavernier, Payero, Jones, Sporar.

Subs: Olusanya, Lea Siliki, Hall, Ikpeazu, Watmore, Bamba, Daniels.

Referee: Peter Bankes (Merseyside)

Image source, Getty Images

And, so with the shift of seasons the table starts to take embryonic shape, across the EFL.

This afternoon's fun features 11 games from the Championship, starting with the lunchtime kick-off between Reading against Middlesbrough.

There's also the small matter of 23 games from Leagues One and Two to pick through, as well, between now and this evening.

Do join in.

"That time of year thou mayst in me behold

When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang

Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,

Bare ruin'd choirs, where late the sweet birds sang."

Not my words. The words of William Shakespeare.

In essence, we're into autumn now, where the rich, bright colours of summer turn to rustic browns, reds and golds.

The hazy, early-season optimism of summer is gone. The football season is now well under way.