Reading vs Stoke City Predictions

• Reading have avoided defeat in seven of their last ten home league games, winning all three this season.
• Stoke have failed to win 11 of their last 14 Championship away games.
• Reading have avoided defeat in six of the last seven head-to-head home meetings.

Reading remain underrated

Reading remain underrated by the oddsmakers heading into Sunday’s home clash with Stoke and can avoid defeat to Alex Neil’s new charges. The Royals have won three of their last four Championship matches, including two good home wins over Blackburn and Middlesbrough in mid-August.

Paul Ince’s side are about as inconsistent as any middle-ranking team in the division, but they have an experienced core that know when it’s time to dig out a result. And, returning from a chastening midweek hiding from Sheffield United, now is the time to put on a good show.

Stoke will arrive in Berkshire fresh from rescuing a 1-1 home draw with a late equaliser against Swansea – one of the most out-of-form teams in the division. Neil will need time to assess the squad he has inherited from Michael O’Neill and results may not come as quickly as they did for him at Sunderland.

Stoke still suffering from travel sickness

That said, the Black Cats did not win any of the first three games the Scotsman oversaw. Backing the hosts to avoid defeat here looks a good option on paper as they have lost only three of their last ten Championship contests at Select Car Leasing Stadium.

Stoke have won three of their last six away league games, but over a longer period that 50% ratio drops dramatically with no further wins from any of the eight previous road trips.

A 2-1 Royals win is the preferred correct score forecast here as Stoke have scored in all but one of their away games since January, but rarely more than once. The Potters have shipped at least two goals on their travels in ten of their last 12 while the Royals have scored multiple times in four of their last seven league games at home.