Luton vs Reading prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2022-10-31 19:45.
Nathan Jones is urging Luton fans to have a little bit of “perspective” about his side’s recent form. The Hatters let slip a lead for the fifth time in their last nine home games (W2, D4, L3) as they drew 1-1 with Sunderland on Saturday, a scoreline which came on the back of a harrowing 4-0 defeat to local rivals Watford just days earlier which was a result Jones admitted left him feeling “sick”.
The Luton manager’s frustrations at his own supporters comes from the fact his side had lost just one of their last nine outings (W4, D4) prior to those two matches which was a run that moved them within touching distance of the Championship play-off places. They will be hoping to get back on track against opponents Reading, especially as they have beaten them in five of the last seven meetings (D1, L1).
That record will only further worry Royals fans who have watched their side lose six of their last eight matches away from home, with five of those defeats producing three or more goals! The most recent of those was a 2-1 loss at Burnley on Saturday, although manager Paul Ince clearly thought the officials were to blame for the defeat, branding the referee “an absolute total joke!”
Their poor form on the road is one of the reasons why Reading, among the early pace-setters in the Championship, have tumbled out of the play-off positions. They have now picked just four points from their last six fixtures (W1, D1, L4), while there’s been a clear problem in holding on to leads, losing three times despite scoring the first goal which is a joint-league high!
Players to watch: Jordan Clark scored Luton’s winner against Reading in the EFL Trophy two years ago and has helped keep five clean sheets in a row against the Royals (W4, D1), while Reading captain Andy Yiadom has lost five of his nine H2H meetings with the Hatters (W2, D2).
Hot stat: Both teams have scored in just one of the last eight meetings between these two sides.