Reading will look to open a six-point gap between themselves and West Ham when they visit Brighton in the Championship tonight.
The Royals are one of English football’s form teams and have surged into the automatic promotion places in the second tier. Second in the table, they are just three points behind leaders Southampton and, more importantly, three ahead of third-placed West Ham. The Hammers’ draw with Birmingham City on Monday has allowed Reading the opportunity to move within touching distance of a return to the Premier League, knowing that a win will send them six points clear of the Upton Park club with just four games remaining (1/6 To Be Promoted @
Coral).
Reading bounced back from a shock defeat to Peterborough by reeling off victories against Blackpool, West Ham and Leeds United. The goals have flowed in that time with nine in total, and for that reason it is no surprise to see them being made 13/10 favourites with
Ladbrokes to register their fourth straight victory here (Brighton 21/10, Draw 21/10). The Royals are 4/1 with same firm to win by one goal and 7/1 to win by two.
Adam Le Fondre helped himself to a brace as Reading beat Leeds United last week, and the former Rotherham United forward is 2/1 with Coral to net anytime in this fixture. Team-mate Jason Roberts, who looked lively against the Whites, is also 2/1 with the same firm, who offer 9/4 on Noel Hunt to score against Brighton.
Brighton also have promotion aspirations and a win here would move them into the play-off places. With Craig Mackail-Smith (9/4 Anytime Goalscorer @
bet365) and Ashley Barnes (5/2 Anytime Goalscorer @
Paddy Power) in the fold they are capable of inflicting defeat on the Reading, but it is hard to bet against a Royals side that have taken 15 points from the last 18 and have lost just one of their last 14 games, winning 12 of them.
Recommended Bet: