Brighton v Reading Betting Preview – Championship 25th February 5.30pm
Can the Seagulls push on and keep the pressure on Newcastle in the scrap for the title? After some slumping away results, the Seagulls produced a very good win out at Barnsley in midweek to get themselves back on track. They have been immense on the south coast at home this season and this is no easy game for Reading, who start the weekend in fourth. They had their good form snapped by third-placed Huddersfield in midweek and this is another tough away day for the Royals who may struggle to get any change out of the Seagulls.
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Brighton v Reading Betting Tips
Bighton are scrapping it out with Newcastle at the top of the Championship table and they did take a good win on the road last time out. They were just starting to lose momentum away from home but they landed a solid win at Barnsley to rectify that. They needed that boost as well as they have only gone W2 D2 L1 in their last five Championship matches home and away. Brighton, who have been a defensive tour de force at home this season have shipped a goal in seven of their last nine games now, so there have been cracks appearing in the title race. But overall at home this season they have showed some cracking form because they have gone W12 D3 L1 at home on the south coast and they have posted a W6 D1 record in their last seven there and you can’t fault at that all. Overall they are undefeated in their last 13 matches on home soil and they have just been immense. Only the nine goals at home the season in the Championship they have conceded and Brighton to win to nil at Bet365 in this one will return you a price of 13/8. Under 2.5 goals is trading at a price of 3/4 running and it will probably be that tight.
Back when the two met earlier in the season, Brighton earned a 2-2 draw out at Reading and overall they have managed just the one home win in their last four against the Royals (W1 D2 L1). Along with that league meeting, they met at Brighton in the EFL Cup and Brighton lost that one 2-1. Brighton have won just one of their last six Championship games against Reading in a W1 D4 L1 record. So overall things are split pretty evenly between the two of them and you have a Brighton 1-0 correct score option at Bet365 running at a good price of 5/1 while just a little longer is the 1-1 draw option at 11/2. Brighton really need the win to keep up the pressure on Newcastle and Glenn Murray is running at a price of 6/5 in the anytime goalscorer market with Tomer Hemed at 13/8. This is a game in which Reading do still need to prove themselves against a tough opponent. A Draw/Brighton half time/full time wager is running at a price of 3/1.
Reading were moving along in fine fashion but questions will be asked of them now having had a six match unbeaten streak snapped in a loss against fellow play-off candidates Huddersfield in midweek. That was a bit of a blow for them in a narrow 1-0 defeat and now they have to try and respond in an equally tough away game. If they go down in this one as well that will be a little set back in confidence, but they are still positioned well enough to make a top six finish this season. Reading’s away form this season hasn’t been great and they have won just one of their last four away from home so are just faltering a little bit. So a response is needed by the to steady the ship. The Royals have posted an overall away record of W7 D2 L7 away from home this season and they have the worst defensive record of all sides inside the top seven in the Championship which could hurt them here. In the anytime goalscorer market, John Swift who has been producing a bit lately is a 9/2 option with Yann Kermorgant at 7/2. Reading have scored in six of their last seven games against Brighton in all competitions so both teams to score is a quote of 10/11.
Brighton v Reading Betting Odds
Brighton 3/5, Draw 13/5, Reading 5/1
Brighton v Reading Predictions
You would just have to side with Brighton getting the win on the board. They have given up so little on home soil in the league this season that they have to be value to take the win even though it will likely be by just the one goal margin. The Royals have been going along so well, but their loss at Huddersfield will have taken the wind out of their sails a bit. It could end up being a rough week for them.
