Reading vs Burton Albion Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Every year there seems to be one or two surprise packages in the Championship and right now Reading look like they may fall into that category. Jaap Stam has really turned them around after a couple of poor bottom half finishes and they look like they will at least be in the frame for a play-off spot.

They come into this match having won all of their last three league games to nil. They’ve come flying out of the blocks in those matches with Gareth McCleary netting twice in the opening five minutes at Wigan last time out following a 10th minute goal in the previous clash with Nottingham Forest. If you fancy the Jamaican to keep that run going, you can back McCleary to score first at 17/2 here.

A home game with newly promoted Burton provides Reading with a good chance to keep their winning run going too. The Brewers have been quite strong at the Pirelli so far but have struggled to replicate that on the road. They average just 0.5 points per away game and are yet to record an away win in the Second Tier. They’ve also found goals hard to come by in recent weeks, with Burton failing to net in 4 of their last 5 matches and all of their last 3 away games.

With Reading having kept clean sheets in 44% of their league games this term and 50% of their home matches, the Royals are clearly strong at the back and it’s hard to see Burton creating many chances in this game. They’ve only kept one clean sheet on their travels so far this term though and Reading have only failed to score in 12% of their Championship fixtures under Stam so there should be a goal or two in this for the hosts and there looks to be really good value in backing Reading to win at 19/20.