Coventry vs Reading prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-04-21 14:00.
Coventry extended their unbeaten run to four games (W1, D3) in the most incredible way in midweek as goalkeeper Ben Wilson grabbed a 95th minute equaliser against fellow play-off chasers Blackburn Rovers. That result means Coventry remain within a logjam of teams between the final play-off spot and 11th separated by just two points, incredibly meaning they could end this round as high as fifth or as low as 11th!
Such is the tension of the Championship at this late stage, picking up maximum points in a double header of home games against bottom-half opponents will likely be crucial to Coventry top-six aspirations. The Sky Blues have lost just one of their last seven home games (W3, D3, L1) and have interestingly won three of their four home league games against bottom-five opponents by the same 2-0 scoreline, but a raft of recent stalemates is threatening their play-off push.
The final three games are going to be monumental for relegation-battling Reading, who have also been sharing the spoils recently with five draws from their last six games. The latest of those was a point against Luton on Wednesday after a crazy five minutes which saw Andy Carroll score, have a goal disallowed for handball, and then ultimately receive a second yellow card for his Diego Maradona-esque antics! That dismissal leaves the Royals without their big target man for this crunch clash, which raises the question of a point earned, but at what cost?
Late February was the last time Reading won a game of football (D5, L5) and you’d have to look even further back to November 2022 for their last win on the road (D2, L9). A continuation of that bleak travelling form suggests that League One beckons for the visitors, especially given that two of their final three games come on the road.
Players to watch: Coventry haven’t won a game without Viktor Gyökeres contributing to a goal since a 1-0 win over Blackburn last November, with the superb Swede scoring 11 times and assisting five more in 11 wins since then. As for Reading, Lucas João may be tasked with filling the large Carroll-shaped void after making five goal contributions in four meetings with Coventry (G3, A2).
Hot stat: Reading have lost three of their five away league games when scoring first this season (W2, L3).