Championship
Saturday 28th January 2012 – Kickoff: 1500hrs
The Madejski Stadium is the setting for the other Championship fixture on Saturday, as Reading entertain an up-and-down Bristol City side.
Reading on the whole have been pretty consistent in their recent league matches but have lost to Hull City and Cardiff City also in recent matches. Outside the top six though, Reading have dealt with these teams quite effectively as wins against Brighton, Ipswich Town and Watford have proven, along with wins over Championship leaders West Ham and Leeds United.
The Royals’ home record stands at 6-4-4 20/14, and the recent home loss to Hull City halted a five match winning sequence which has lifted the Berkshire outfit to the fringes of the top six. They will be hoping to return to winning ways against an inconsistent Bristol City but will be wary as The Robins have already toppled second placed Southampton at St Marys Stadium earlier.
Strikers Simon Church (6 goals) and Adam Le Fondre (6 goals, 3 assists) have shared the bulk of the goalscoring, along with creative wingers Jobi McAnuff (4 goals, 7 assists) and Jimmy Kebe (2 goals, 6 assists) and midfielder Hal Robson-Kanu (3 goals, 3 assists). Former Leeds left-back Ian Harte can also be dangerous at set-pieces outside the box.
Visitors Bristol City are unpredictable at the best of times but recent wins at Southampton along with home wins over Millwall and Doncaster Rovers who both occupy places in the bottom six, have ensured relative safety from relegation for the time being.
The Robins however have won just once on the road in their last five with losses at Derby County, Brighton and most worryingly of all, Coventry City. This shows they do have a self-destruct button and they also struggle to find the net on their travels too.
Their away record stands at 4-3-7 13/22, and have failed to score on five occasions. In striker Nicky Maynard (8 goals, 2 assists) they have a consistent goalscorer, although he is now on Wigan Athletic’s radar and the west country side have given The Latics permission to discuss a possible transfer in January.
This could very well spell trouble for Bristol City as the only other performer so far in terms of goals has been Albert Adomah (5 goals, 5 assists) along with support from former Birmingham and Leeds midfielder Neil Kilkenny (4 assists).
Despite confidence that City could score at Reading, I’m backing the home side with the play-offs in their sights to secure a vital home win that could place them in the top six; Reading to win 2-1 as a scoreline.
Main Pick: Reading straight win @ 1.76 Pinnacle
Value Pick: Reading AH-1 @ 2.42 Pinnacle
