Wolverhampton vs Reading Predictions

Having lost three of their last four matches, Wolves will be hoping to find some respite against Championship strugglers Reading in the 3^rd round of the Carabao Cup this week.

Wanderers’ resources have been stretched thin over multiple competitions already this season, and the rigours of competing in early Europa League qualification action has had a noticeable effect on Wolves’ energy levels.

Wolves are one of only two teams still searching for their first Premier League win of 2019/20, though the point they secured from behind against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday did at least stop a three-match losing run.

As luck would have it, Wanderers’ next league fixture is against the only other Premier League team yet to win a game this season, Watford, and with a game of such significance on the horizon, Nuno Espirito Santo is likely to take the chance to rest a number of key players for Wolves’ meeting with Reading on Wednesday.

The Royals are in the midst of a three-game losing streak of their own, having suffered successive defeats to Charlton, Middlesbrough and Blackburn, and in total Reading have won only two of their eight matches in the Championship this term.

But while results have been poor, Reading have at least shown some competency in defence, shipping just 11 goals in total across their first eight league fixtures of the campaign.

In away games, Reading have become adept at keeping the score to reasonable levels over the past year. Despite winning on only four occasions, Reading conceded two or fewer goals in 28 of their last 31 away fixtures in all competitions since April 2018.

Wolves have averaged just 1.33 goals per game at home in the Premier League this season, and with a chunk of their most frequent goal-getters likely to sit Wednesday’s game out, a low-scoring game is expected at Molineux against Reading.

With Wolves likely to be without a number of key players, and Reading’s well-established ability to keep things tight on the road, we think the value lies in the under 2.5 total goals market for this week’s Carabao Cup clash.

Our correct score prediction falls in line with our main tip – we’re forecasting a narrow 1-0 win for Wolves. Reading conceded only seven times in total in the six away fixtures they have contested since the summer, and we’re backing them to keep the score down again at Molineux on Wednesday.