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After what feels like another very long International fortnight, Reading are back in action against Championship new boys Burton. So how do the bookies see the first ever league meeting of the sides going?
All odds are best available and taken from Oddschecker.com on Friday morning.
Match Result
Reading Win | Draw | Burton Win |
23/20 | 5/2 | 3/1 |
Clear who the oddsmen fancy in this one, with Reading clear favourites at a touch above evens. William Hill put us at 23/20 but realistically you'll be lucky to get better than evens on this one and that seems fair for a team who've lost just once at home all season in the league.
Burton are 3/1, again a price fair for a team that haven't ever won away in the Championship and a side who've conceded an average of just under two-per-game on the road. With that being said, Burton have got credible results away, with draws at Blackburn, Wolves and Fulham so they're far from a blunt outfit. Given those results, the draw at 5/2 doesn't look a bad bet at all.
First Goalscorer
D Samuel | 6/1 |
Y Kermorgant | 6/1 |
R Beerens | 8/1 |
G McCleary | 12/1 |
C Harriott | 12/1 |
D Williams | 12/1 |
No John Swift for Reading in this one and the bookies obviously know something we don't because Dom Samuel has been given a 6/1 price to be the leading contender for the first goal scored. Yann Kermorgant is priced slightly shorter with most bookmakers but you can also get 6/1 on him right now with Paddy Power.
Burton's Chris O'Grady hasn't scored a goal all season but he's still their best bet with the bookies at 8/1, while Stuart Beavon, son of former Reading man Stuart, is also at 8/1 in a season that's seen him score just once in the EFL Cup.
Garath McCleary started on fire at Wigan, with two quick goals and at 17/2 he's well worth a punt, while Callum Harriott at 12/1 isn't a bad shout either if Stam opts to keep an unchanged side. Roy Beerens is at 8/1 right now, with Danny Williams 12/1.
For the outside chance, Liam Kelly could be the man to step in for Swift and given his set piece pedigree, his odds of 20/1 look pretty nice.
Championship Betting
We may be fourth in the Championship but the bookmakers still aren't convinced we'll stay there, so you can get 10/1 on Reading to be promoted at the end of the season, putting us 8th most likely in the betting.
For a top six finish the best you can get right now is 9/4, which has dropped a fair bit already since hovering around 3/1 before the win at Wigan. As I said in that bookie watch, I really would wait for Reading to run into a better side because the odds aren't that appealing right now.
As for winning the league, you can still get 150/1, while relegation is a 100/1 chance, nearly double last week's 55/1.
As always please gamble responsibly #gambleaware