Reading V Bristol City
Sunday, 26th December (Boxing Day) – 15:00 (GMT)
Two sides who started the campaign dreaming of a possible return to the top-flight clash at the Madejski stadium on Boxing Day with only one still aspiring to clinch promotion at the end of the season.
Reading were the team who finished the previous term by far the strongest of all the teams in the division, producing the sort of form which had they reproduced earlier in the campaign would have almost certainly seen them finish at least in the play-off’s – What was their objective at the start of the season then and remains that way this season, too.
After 21 rounds of Championship matches, Reading find themselves in a prominent position even though they haven’t been anywhere near consistent as they would of liked, that despite the fact they haven’t tasted defeat in any of their previous six league matches. Impressive? Not really. Only one of those was a win, although encouraging for punters was that it was their latest, and an eye-catching one at that. Derby Country have been one of the surprise packages this season, so for Reading to beat them 2-1, at Derby, was some achievement. That positive outcome ended a sequence of five successive draws, although every single one of those was against a team chasing promotion, all situated inside the top-six in the division.
So why is Reading’s recent run so disappointing? With the Championship as competitive as it is, inability to convert stalemates into victories could prove the difference between promotion and another spell in England’s second tier. It would appear manager Brian McDermott has whispered similar sentiments into his players’ ears ahead of a hectic yet pivotal part of the campaign, and it could be worth backing that McDermott’s words are still ringing true in the dressing room.
Under the assumption that the players have now bucked up their ideas and will be giving it their absolute all to avoid dropping a single point over a crucial period of the season, Reading look a decent shout even though their odds aren’t all that. Before their hard-fought win away from home over Derby Country last time out, The Royals had won just six times in the league, split in segments of three sets of back-to-back wins. So, on each occasion Reading have produced a win from out of nowhere, they’ve maintained a trend of at least backing it up with another quick-fire success. A lovely little omen.
Furthermore, their opponent’s, Bristol City, while they appear to be enjoying a renaissance following a torrid start to the season, have been struck down with an illness bug meaning some players will be missing, others a little groggy and under the weather while most of the team haven’t even been able to train together in the week leading up to Sunday’s encounter. Add in back-to-back away defeats for The Robins against Leeds (3-1) and Hull (2-0) and we feel we’ve uncovered a possible hidden gem in Reading, a team at a ugly price who should leave us dazzled.
Matt’s Selection:
Reading to WIN – 1.75 totesport
