Royals for Premier League riches
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Back the upset in Championship play-off final
The curtain comes down on the 2016/17 English football season on bank holiday Monday at the conclusion of Huddersfield vs Reading, who meet in the Championship play-off final. In a game of major importance, the winners will be catapulted towards the riches of the Premier League, the losers sent back to the drawing board, with little to show for a season of toil.
Played out in front of a packed Wembley stadium from 3.00pm, the most valuable fixture in football also attracts the attention of Sky Sports, who bring us every kick, save and crunching tackle live. Coral punters can ramp up the interest with a winning bet.
Royals take confidence from league form
Reading were the highest finishing team of the two during the regular season, ending third, four points ahead of Monday’s opponents, but eight off Brighton and the automatic promotion places. Jaap Stam’s crew remain unbeaten so far this month, beating Burton Albion before edging past Fulham 2-1 on aggregate over two legs.
Despite being written off in the pre-match betting, The Royals upset the odds to grab a draw at Craven Cottage, going on to finish the job at the Madejski a few days later, winning 1-0. Fans’ favourite Kermorgant scored the goal that mattered, rattling in from the spot on 49 minutes, following a handball in the box by Fulham’s Tomas Kalas.
Stats make 1-0 worth a play
Followers of the stats will remember 1-0 was also the score in each of the two league meetings between these sides this season, the home team winning on each occasion. Roy Beerens won it for Reading back in September, while Philip Billing did the business for Huddersfield earlier this year. Taking this one to follow that trend? Click no in the both teams to score market and we’ll give you a handy 4/5.
Reading, again, find themselves written off by the odds compilers, and if you want to take a chance on the underdogs, our traders are handing out 23/10, which is sure to attract plenty of attention. Those with a touch more confidence can get them to win to nil at 21/5, while a repeat of that 1-0 looks an excellent way to mark the day, 15/2 the prize.
Huddersfield do little to excite
Huddersfield haven’t been quite as convincing this month, opening with a 3-0 loss at the John Smiths vs Cardiff City. There was also a big slice of fortune about the way they booked their place at Wembley. Ending goalless at home vs Sheffield Wednesday in the semis, the pair then couldn’t be parted at Hillsborough, fighting out a 1-1 finish.
That forced the match into a gripping penalty shoot-out, which The Terriers won, with manager David Wagner joking at the end that Germans don’t lose penalties. A calm man on the surface, with a smile on his face, but he certainly wouldn’t thank you for a repeat of that tense finish at Wembley.
Traders with The Terriers
A flick through recent results shows Huddersfield are winless in their last four, and have managed just three victories in 10. That’s a run stretching back to April 5th, and will do very little to inspire confidence with punters. Our football guys seem to be in a forgiving mood however, giving 13/10 on The Terriers.
It’s difficult, looking at the stats, to sell a bet on Huddersfield, but they did walk away with that 1-0 when last meeting Reading. A repeat in the correct score field has been chalked up on the board at 11/2.
