Reading v Fulham Betting Tips: Goals expected at Madejski

This rearranged Championship match is between two teams who are looking to gain promotion to the Premier League via the play-off places this season.

After going on an incredible run which boosted them up to third in the league, Reading have now lost their last two Championship matches and last three in all competitions which means that they have dropped down to fifth in the table. A few years ago we saw Reading go on a barnstorming run in the second half of the season to secure promotion to the top flight, however, the way things are going, we could see the opposite happen in the second half of this campaign.

Royals’ matches can be relied upon for goals as they have scored 38 (the sixth best in the league) but let in 36 which is by far the worst record in the top seven. Both teams scoring tends to be the case in most of Reading’s last few matches – four in the last Championship games five to be exact. Defence is certainly the main concern for Jaap Stam’s men and they have failed to keep a clean sheet in any competition since 19th November.

Reading’s home form was certainly the comfort blanket in their good run having won five matches on the spin prior to the surprising loss against struggling Queens Park Ranger in their last match at the Madejski Stadium. Furthermore, they have scored in all but two of their home matches in all competitions this season, although the fact they have conceded in each of their last four at home will worry Stam.

Fulham are going somewhat under the radar in their play-off push but the fact they have only lost twice in their last 12 league games – both against automatic promotion favourites Brighton & Hove Albion – means that they are now just five points off that precious sixth spot with a game in hand.

Much like Reading, Fulham are a team whose matches can be relied up on for goals. They are excellent going forward as demonstrated by the fact they are the fourth top scorers in the league having found the back of the net 44 times, however, they are susceptible at the back with an average of 1.19 goals conceded per game. However, two clean sheets in their last four Championship matches gives reason for optimism for manager Slavisa Jokanovic.

The Cottagers have been known in recent seasons as a team who are poor on the road, however, no defeats in their last four league matches away from home and having the third best overall away record in the division shows that this has turned around during this campaign.

The previous meeting between these two sides ended in Fulham handing out a 5-0 thrashing to Reading at Craven Cottage back in December, showing just how unpredictable matches between teams like these two are.

I think it’s more than reasonable to expect goals here and, at 2/1, ‘Over 3.5 Goals’ looks a good bet. In addition, ‘Over 2.5 Goals & Both Teams to Score’ is another appealing selection at 19/20. In what is likely to be an unpredictable affair, these two bets allow for plenty of flexibility on the result, while each of the last three renewals of this fixture have seen at least four goals go in.

See all of Tuesday’s tips here.