West Bromwich Albion vs Reading Predictions

• Under 2.5 goals have been scored in seven of the last nine games to feature West Bromwich Albion.
• Reading have seen under 2.5 goals netted in three of their last six matches – including Friday’s draw at Norwich City.
• West Brom have only conceded four goals under Carlos Corberan, keeping six clean sheets in their last eight games.

Albion rejuvenated under Corberan

While West Bromwich Albion supporters have expressed concern about the club’s financial situation recently, on the pitch, things are going well for Carlos Corberan’s men, who claimed their eighth win in nine Championship fixtures against Preston North End on Thursday. While Monday’s fixture against Reading represents a potential banana skin, the Baggies have a fine defensive record under the Spaniard, which we expect to continue.

Indeed, West Brom have kept six clean sheets in their last eight games, only conceding four times in nine outings since Corberan took charge in late October. Under 2.5 goals have been scored in seven of those nine games, with West Brom’s charge up the table relying on an excellent defensive record. At the Hawthorns, meanwhile, Albion have won four successive games to nil.

Reading have seen under 2.5 goals scored in three of their last six games, and while Paul Ince’s men are not deemed ideal candidates to break down the solid hosts – they slipped to a 2-0 defeat against the Baggies when they were managerless in October – they shouldn’t be entirely written off. Thursday’s 1-1 draw at Norwich City showed the Royal’s ability to deliver a shock, and they have lost just one of their last five league games.

Low-scoring affair anticipated

The price of 4/6 around a West Brom win offers little value given Reading’s own decent festive form, so punters are advised to back under 2.5 match goals – a winning bet in six of the last seven Championship games at the Hawthorns.

However, correct score backers may be tempted to plump for a repeat of October’s 2-0 win for the Baggies, who have won their last two matches by that scoreline.