Reading vs Norwich Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

This is a really big game in the race for the top six. Victory for Reading would give them a 10 point advantage on a Norwich side who had looked certaintly to finish in at least a play-off position during the opening couple of months of the season.

More recently though Norwich have been very poor and this looks like another game where they could come unstuck. The Canaries have lost 7 of their last 9 Championship matches and all of their last 4 away games. They’ve lost 55% of their Championship away games overall now which is becoming a big concern, particularly with Carrow Road not a massive fortress either.

Their main problems all season have been at the back. They are yet to keep a clean sheet on their travels and have conceded a massive 2.09 goals per game on average away from home. Only one other side above the bottom eight has a worse defensive record than them and Reading are a side capable of exploiting those issues.

While Norwich have lost 7 out of 9, Reading have won 7 out of 9 coming into this game and they’ve also won their last 4 at the Madejski, so there is a big contrast in the form of these clubs and that alone points towards Reading as the more likely victors. The Royals have the second best home record in the league, averaging 2.18 points per game in Berkshire, winning 64% of those games. They’ve only failed to score once at home and with Norwich leaking goals, they will surely net at least once here and they are doing reasonably well at the other end, conceding just 0.73 goals per game at home.

The bookies still make Norwich the slight favourites here but there is nothing about them right now which justifies that status. We are far enough into the season to not look upon Reading’s current 3rd place as a totally false position so they are a decent side and particularly at home. With a big Boxing Day crowd behind them, backing Reading 0.0 Asian Handicap at 2.100 looks to offer really good value.