Championship: Reading can stage revival against QPR
Published:
Matt Haynes | December 2, 2015
Reading v QPR
- Championship
- Thursday, December 3rd
- Kick-off: 20:00
- Madejski Stadium, Reading
- Live on Sky Sports 1 and 5
Royals could be boosted with Robson-Kanu return from injury
Reading are evens with Coral to beat QPR in their Championship fixture, as they look to get back into a play-off place with the Berkshire outfit currently just one point off such a position.
Thanks to an early season run which saw Steve Clarke’s side win six out of eight matches, Reading are ideally positioned to go on another Championship winning streak in the run-up to Christmas, despite picking up just six points from their last seven matches.
However, with Hal-Robson returning from injury, this could be just the boost that Reading need to get them back to winning ways as a QPR side visit who have just four points from their last five games. Whether the striker plays is another matter and Clarke is expected to make the judgement call a few hours before the match.
Home form to work in Reading’s favour
The Royals haven’t lost at home since mid-September when succumbing to a 1-0 defeat to Derby and, having won previously at the Madejski, they will be confident of picking up three points.
A 2-1 win over Bolton secured all three points as Lucas Piazon fired Clarke’s side into the lead after half an hour and the 21-year-old is well worth considering at odds of 7/1 to break the deadlock once more.
Reading have had a number of players who have chipped in with goals this term, including Watford loanee Matej Vydra who dispatched last time in the 3-1 away defeat to Nottingham Forest. The Czech Republic striker is 7/4 to net anytime, while Orlando Sa who has also been among the goals carries the same price.
Austin to give QPR hope
While QPR have struggled of late, striker Charlie Austin is at least doing his bit. A welcome 1-0 win over Leeds United last time out at home was secured with a goal from the former Burnley player midway through the second half, as he netted his seventh goal of the season.
If the Hoops are to emerge from the Madejski with all three points, Austin will be key and is 6/1 to break the deadlock, though will be reliant on service from Matt Phillips, who provides a useful outlet out wide and is 11/4 to score his fifth of the campaign anytime.
QPR’s away record though, is abysmal this term, having not won on the road in the Championship since they beat Huddersfield 1-0 in August.
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Coral’s top tip: Back Piazon to score first once again @ 7/1 with Coral
