Sheffield Wednesday vs Reading Predictions

Steve Bruce has made the perfect start with Sheffield Wednesday, after taking over at the perfect time. His first four games see him clash with teams in the bottom five of the Championship. The opening two have brought clashes with two of the current bottom three, as the Owls host Reading on Saturday. The Royals come here after back to back draws, which haven’t been enough to save them from the drop. Can they turn things around with a victory at Hillsborough on Saturday?

The hosts have got the desired effect after turning to an experienced boss. Bruce has taken plenty of sides towards the Premier League, but he’s dropping down to try and guide Wednesday away from danger in the league. Last weekend’s 1-0 win at Ipswich took them 13 points clear of 22nd placed Reading, and now they can add to that advantage by claiming a home win on Saturday.

The visitors are looking rooted in the bottom three, and we currently have four sides who are set to take up the bottom three slots. The Royals need to chase down Rotherham – who sit a point above of the bottom three. It’s getting tight, but the visitors need to start getting results if they’re to sneak to safety in the final few months.

This is the kind of trip which Reading need to compete in, but they are going up against a team who have been lifted by Bruce’s arrival. They have now won three of their last four matches – with the other coming in a FA Cup clash at the holders Chelsea. On top of that, they’re unbeaten in six matches at home. The hosts have won six and drawn one of their home clashes with the bottom seven, so we’re backing them to edge this one.

Sheffield Wednesday have won their last three games against Reading in all competitions, a run which should continue. The visitors have won one of their away trips all season, losing seven times. We expect their poor away record to hurt them in this trip, so we’re siding with Wednesday in this encounter.