Some saturday previews

Reading V Middlesborough

Reading were one of my favourite teams to back last season, this year though they have been a bit of a let down. Mainly due to a lack of form up front from Kevin Doyle, however they seem to have turned a corner and now look a little more confidant. Sitting in 13th place theres no doubt that their away form is dire with only one point picked from a possible 21. But the home form seems to be back on track. (4-0-3) 3 wins on the bounce at home against Wigan, Derby and Newcastle. Its fair to say none of these 3 teams are world beaters but its also fair to say that Wigan and Newcastle especially have more to offer than this Boro side.

Middlesborough are flirting dangerously with the relegation this year. Home and away form is poor with only 2 games won this year. The signing of Mido earlier in the year hasn’t boosted their strike force and he seems to be out of shape. They haven’t fared well on the road at all (1-1-5) and have scored measly 4 goals and conceded 14. Both of the first and second choice keepers are out injured and R. Turnbull will wearing the number one for this game.

Only once have Reading failed to score at home this year and have managed to score against the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal, surely the weak Boro defence will not keep them out for 90 minutes. On the other hand Boro have really struggled to find the net. This could be the final nail in the coffin for Gareth Southgate. I must admit I’m surprised that there are odds of 2 available for the home win, as I would have been expecting 1.8 or so.
Home win.



Ipswich V Barnsley Town

I must admit at first when I saw the odds available I had to check if I was missing something, 1.7 for a team with a 100% 8 wins from 8 at home???
Playing against a Barnsley side who can be described at best as mediocre away from home. One look at home and away stats for both clubs here tells two very different tales.
Ipswich have the best home record in England, as I said above. 8 home games played, 8 won, 25 goals scored and only 4 conceded. An unbelievable record which inevitably has to come to an end eventually but I cant see it happening against Barnsley.

Barnsley are in 1oth place but this is mainly due to a decent home record, they are very poor away from home, only one team has scored less away goals ( bottom placed Norwich)
Again, one look at their away stats doesn’t make great reading for any potential backers out there. (1-3-5) with only 6 scored and 14 conceded.
skipper Brian Howard and Jamal Campbell-Ryce are out and its hard to see them stopping the Ipswich train. Both teams are similar enough in the sense that they are both strong at home but away are really poor.

I expect a confident Ipswich to get another win tomorrow and will take them –1 on the asian to boost the odds a little, at worst im expecting a 1 goal home win which would mean money back




PICK
Reading –0.5 ( 2.02 @ bet365) 5 points
Ipswich – 1 asian handicap ( 2.12 @ mansion) 6 points


There will be more previews, hopefully posted first thing tomorrow morning so check back.