Reading vs Aston Villa Predictions

Aston Villa returned to winning ways last weekend, a result which has left them in 10th place in the Championship. They were able to see off bottom side Ipswich, but can they win at 22nd placed Reading? The away side need to turn around their form if they’re going to stay in the hunt for second, and this seems like a great opportunity for the Villains. They come into this clash looking to pile onto Reading’s relegation misery, with the hosts on course for the drop. Can the home side do anything to avoid that fate?

The Royals already had a huge chance to turn their fortunes around, as they drew 1-1 at second-bottom Bolton in midweek. That was a crucial relegation six-pointer, which saw Reading lose out. They now face a Villa side who are aiming for sixth, so Jose Gomes has a lot of work to do to get his side out of the bottom three this weekend.

Villa ended a five-game winless run in that victory over Ipswich, while they moved within four points of sixth. They’re among a gaggle of sides who are in the fight for the playoffs, but Dean Smith’s men are looking to make up for defeat in the playoff final in May last year. Smith has inspired some brilliant streaks of form from his boyhood club, so could they be about to hit another strong run following their much-needed victory?

Villa will be grateful for these two clashes with relegation-threatened sides, especially as they need some momentum ahead of their upcoming clash with Sheffield United. The Villains are the favourites for this clash, especially given how poor Reading have been at home. They’ve lost eight times at their own ground, conceding 1.57 goals per game at their own ground. The only silver lining for the Royals is that they’ve scored in four straight league games ahead of this clash.

The hosts should trouble the Villa backline, as they’ve conceded in 79% of their league games this term. They’ve seen both teams score in 72% of their Championship outings, with Tammy Abraham firing them forward of late. We do see the Chelsea loanee troubling one of the league’s worst sides, but Reading should expect to trouble a Villa side who have conceded in nine of their last 10 games. With five of the last six clashes between these two seeing both teams score, goals seem likely. The visitors have seen over 2.5 goals in 11 of their last 13 league games, so we’re backing over 2.5 here.