Brighton vs Reading Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Victory here for Brighton would give them a huge 11 point cushion on Reading with a game in hand and surely would make the race for the automatic promotion places at most a three-horse race. The Royals have been inconsistent on the road and have struggled away to the top sides so a home win does look the most likely outcome here.

Brighton have wobbled a bit over the past month but crucially they’ve continued to churn out the results at the Amex. They’ve won 7 of their last 8 home games in all competitions and have won 75% of their home league games. Their average of 2.44 points per home fixture is also the best in the division so the Royals are going to have to produce something special here to cause an upset. Ominously for the visitors Brighton put in one of their best all-round performances of 2017, to claim a deserved 2-0 win at Barnsley last weekend and unlike Reading have had a week off to prepare for this one.

They have the 2nd best defensive record in the league with only 0.81 goals per game conceded but had just been leaking a few prior to that match so the clean sheet would have been a relief for Chris Hughton’s men. They’ve  scored 2.06 goals per game on average at home this term and there is plenty of firepower in this team. Top scorer Glenn Murray has only scored once in 2017 but their other forwards have hit some form. with Sam Baldock bagging both goals at Oakwell. His average of a goal every 179 minutes this term basically equates to one in two games, which is excellent and backing Baldock to score anytime at 2/1 looks to offer great value here given that.

Reading are having a great season but they can certainly look on with a bit of envy at the strikers Brighton have. The Royals play some good football and have a few midfielders who can pop up with a goal but lack a real predator up top. They’ve been a bit inconsistent on the road in truth and have lost 44% of their Championship away games. They’ve conceded 1.81 goals per game on their travels, which is slightly surprising given how high up in the league they are.

Although their overall average of 1.44 points per game away is decent, most of their away wins have come against struggling sides. Up against the other promotion hopefuls, they’ve already lost at Leeds, Newcastle, Huddersfield and Derby. 9th placed Barnsley are the highest ranked side they’ve won away to and they just look a bit short on quality to mix it with the top sides away from the Madejski.

Brighton are so strong at home that backing a home win at 13/20 looks a solid bet here.