Reading vs Birmingham prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-04-06 14:00.
Reading boss Paul Ince praised the “togetherness and spirit” of his side after they came from behind to claim a point against Bristol City last time out, despite the fact that it was only their second point across the last six rounds (D2, L4). The Royals now sit just one point above the drop zone after a six-point deduction was applied due to breaches of financial rules, leaving them in a much more perilous position in which they began the week.
A home return might fail to stimulate much improvement in the Royals, who have followed up a seven-game unbeaten run here by scoring just once across their last three (D1, L2). Yet their record in home league games against teams placed in the bottom-half ahead of the round does offer some optimism for Ince’s men, with Reading unbeaten in all nine such games this season (W7, D2).
Now sitting eight points ahead of Reading after the points deduction, Birmingham will arrive in Berkshire looking to pull themselves ever closer to mathematical safety. A run of three wins without reply across their last four league games has propelled them to a position of relative safety, with boss John Eustace pouring the praise on his side after edging out promotion-chasing Blackburn 1-0 last weekend.
Confidence may be high in the Birmingham camp after ending a three-game travelling winless run with a 1-0 win away to QPR in their latest trip, and that's not to mention their narrow 3-2 win in the reverse match against Reading. In fact, Birmingham are unbeaten in three of the last four away H2Hs and despite losing their most recent visit, they haven’t recorded back-to-back defeats here since 2013.
Players to watch: Andy Carroll is Reading’s only scorer across their last three home games, yet he has a poor personal record against the Blues (W1, L3). As for Birmingham, Tahith Chong has enjoyed playing on the road this year, with two of his three goals in 2023 contributing to away victories.
Hot stat: Only QPR have kept fewer than Reading’s four home league clean sheets this season (21%).