Wigan v Reading Betting Tip Both teams to score – 18 April 2014

Championship Tips

Wigan have to get over the disappointment of missing out on a second successive FA Cup final after losing to Arsenal on penalties last weekend as they face the side who its directly below them in the table. It’s a huge game for Uwe Rosler and his players who look to strengthen their grip on a top six place and secure their place in the end of season play-offs. They have a three point lead over Reading and two other sides, as well as having a game in hand as well. They still have work to do to seal it though, and the nature of the Championship – particularly this season – highlights how unpredictable results can be. That’s evidenced in Wigan’s recent form, with just one win from their last five league games. When you consider that they have previously won eight out of their last 10, it’s another indication of how important momentum is, especially at this stage of the campaign.

Reading crept back into the top six with a 1-1 draw against Leicester on Monday, virtue of a superior goal difference compared to Brighton and Ipswich. It leaves them with no margin of error heading into their last four matches, two of which are against the current top five. Like Wigan, Reading too are struggling at the business end of the season and have only managed one victory in their last five, and that came against relegation threatened Charlton at the start of the month. Being away from home this Good Friday will not fear the Royals as they have won three more games on their travels compared to at home. They have the best away record outside of the top three and they will be well aware that they will have to be on top of their game if they wish to take a much needed back home with them from the DW Stadium.

You would have been hard pushed to tell who was top five in the Premier League and who was top five in the Championship going by last weekend’s FA Cup final. Wigan acquitted themselves tremendously well and probably should have progressed. That’s gone now and their next target is returning to the Premier League at the first time of asking. The job Rosler has done cannot be underestimated as they looked to be going nowhere fast under the stewardship of Owen Coyle.

Nigel Adkins has previously won promotion to the Premier League when at Southampton but that was as Champions so the Championship play-offs will be a new experience if they can managed to get there. If they are to get there then it will be mainly down to their away form. Although their form overall has been patchy of late, Reading have won five of their last seven on the road, with their only defeat coming last time out against Bournemouth.

Neither side are in terrific form at the moment and it’s hard to pick a winner because of that. Reading have already won at Derby and QPR whilst Wigan have only managed a draw at best against the sides currently above them. With that in mind, I think the safest selection on this particular game is for both teams to find the back of the net.

Both teams to score 5/6 @ Betvictor