Thursday 12th January 2016 Kickoff: 2000hrs Reading v Queens Park Rangers Football – England – Championship Both Reading and Queens Park Rangers exited the FA Cup last weekend but the two have been in good form in the Championship of late and will be looking to continue that by picking up points when they meet on Thursday. The home team are riding in third at the moment looking to close the gap on the top two whilst ‘Rangers are attempting to pull themselves further clear from the foot of the table.
The Royals appointed Jaap Stam as their new manager during the summer and it was uncertain as to how the former Manchester United and AC Milan player would do in his senior management job, let alone his first season coaching in England. More than halfway through the season and it appears to have been a very shrewd appointment as Reading have enjoyed an excellent season thus far. With 14 wins and only six defeats from their first 24 games the club have a realistic chance of automatic promotion, although on the evidence we have seen so far it will be difficult to catch Brighton or Newcastle. It may be that Stam and his players will have to target a playoff spot but that would be considerable success in itself. The Dutchman will hope that last weekend’s heavy defeat away to United in the cup is just a blip and there’s no reason not to believe that as Reading had won nine of their 11 league games before that loss.
Ian Holloway has had a long association with Queens Park Rangers, first as a player and then a five year spell as manager between 2001 and 2006. He probably felt that would have been his last position at the club but the sacking of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink earlier this season presented him another opportunity as he resumed control of first team affairs. It has certainly not been the easiest of starts to kick off his second spell but there have been signs of improvement recently, which was much needed. Before last weekend’s 2-1 loss at home to Blackburn in the cup, QPR had managed to win back to back games for the first time since August. The wins over Wolves and Ipswich were hard earned and allowed them to move five points clear of the bottom three but that good form will have to continue such is the cluster of teams fighting to beat the drop. Like Stam, Holloway will be hoping a return to league business will see his team recapture the winning thread.
Reading v Queens Park Rangers Betting Tips
The spoils were shared when the two met at Loftus Road in October, which was actually the fifth draw in the last seven meetings of the teams. The need for points for both Reading and ‘Rangers is apparent but for very different reasons, obviously. The hosts are involved in a competitive battle to remain in control of a playoff spot with the aspiration of challenging the top two and their opponents cannot afford to rest on their laurels at the other end of the table.
Reading have only lost one game at home all season in the league which is an indication of how strong they are on their own turf. It’s the complete opposite for QPR who have found wins on the road difficult to come by. The 2-1 success over Wolves recently was their first success in six road games and they managed to score in just two of those. They have also sold a couple of key players this week which will not make their task any easier. I’ve been impressed with Reading this term and whilst they were well beaten last week at Old Trafford, Thursday’s match is an excellent opportunity to get them back on track and accumulate another three points for their promotion charge.
Reading 20/21 @ Betvictor
