Barnsley vs Reading Predictions

• Barnsley are 6 points shy of safety after their latest defeat.
• The hosts have conceded in their last 14 games, keeping a clean sheet in just 10% of their matches.
• The home side have seen both teams score in 80% of their games at Oakwell this term.
• BTTS has landed in 11 of Barnsley’s last 12.

Barnsley Could Drag Reading Down

A defeat at Cardiff at the weekend has left Barnsley six-points shy of safety, with the Festive period likely to be vital for the Tykes in their bid to stay up. So far, Barnsley have been adrift of their Championship rivals for the campaign, having lost 12 of their 20 matches so far. Are they set for another defeat this week?

They meet a Reading side who have their own relegation fears. It’s not quite a relegation showdown – given the nine-point gap between them – but the pair are each desperate for a victory.

Defensive Struggles Continue to Hurt Hosts

The Tykes’ weekend loss was a 3-2 reverse at Cardiff – another clash which has seen them concede three goals. Barnsley have major issues at the back, having conceded a goal in their last 14 matches. No side has let in more goals than Barnsley this season, with the home side conceding in 90% of their league games this season.

Barnsley are conceding too many clear cut chances, having conceded from 16% of the shots they’ve faced this season. They’ve been consistently poor at the back, with each of the bottom half visitors to Oakwell scoring at least twice in their visits this term. That’s something to be concerned about here, with Reading scoring twice at Wigan, Huddersfield and QPR.

Going for Goals at Oakwell

We expect a high scoring clash here, given Barnsley’s habit of conceding goals. The hosts have let in too many, with Reading scoring in each of their last six visits to Barnsley, hitting two goals per game on average. The Tykes have hit form of their own, scoring twice in five of their last six matches in the league, so goals seem likely here.

The hosts have seen both teams score in 80% of their home games this season. On top of that, Barnsley have seen both teams score in 11 of their last 12 matches in the league, so we expect entertainment when these two meet on Wednesday. Both teams to score is our pick, which has landed in the last three meetings between these two at this ground.

While Barnsley have struggled over the season, they have avoided defeat in 60% of their home games this term. However, with a 10 game gap between the first and second victories of the season, we don’t see them claiming three points in this one. The pair have drawn two of their last three meetings at Oakwell, while the Royals have failed to win seven of their last nine trips in the league. Barnsley have drawn 2-2 on three occasions at home this term, so we’re backing a repeat.