Does the Royals’ little run continue?
While Birmingham City bounced back from their month-long hiatus in the Championship with a goalless draw at relegation candidates Blackpool, Reading celebrated a 1-0 home win over Coventry. The Royals have now won two games in a row, climbed to eighth place in the table and stayed in the top six. They are only two points off a play-off place.
Last season Reading won both the first and second legs against the Blues in the Championship. Birmingham’s next away win against Reading is a good bet for the Royals. It should be noted, however, that the team from Berkshire County has the second-weakest away attack in the Championship with only eight goals away from home.
It’s unlikely to be too much of a scoreline at St Andrew’s, especially as the Blues have averaged just 2.09 goals per game at home so far. However, Birmingham City are not really strong at home. Also because the Blues have only won three of their eleven home games in league play, the prediction on the Royals’ away win at Birmingham against Reading is very interesting.
Birmingham – Statistics & current form
Birmingham City Football Club has been in existence since 1875 and, despite its modest trophy collection, is one of the most traditional clubs in the country. Aston Villa’s city rivals have twice reached the FA Cup final (1931 and 1956). The Blues also spent a total of seven seasons in the Premier League.
Since their relegation in the summer of 2011, however, Birmingham have only played in the second-tier Championship, where they have recently had to look downwards. Last season, they finished 20th in the final table and just about managed to stay in the league.
Without a win in three league games
With a new coach and a total of 16 new players, a more carefree season should be completed again for the 2022/23 season. The interim result is quite satisfactory. Under John Eustace, the Blues won seven of the first 22 league games (eight draws, seven defeats), which means a position in the secure midfield in 14th place.
In fact, however, they are “only” five points clear of the first relegation place, which is why the most recent 0-0 draw at relegation candidates Blackpool was not all that pleasing. The Blues also remained winless in this match for the third game in a row (two draws, one defeat).
The third best defence in the Championship
Despite this, the team from the second largest city in the UK will go into the home game at St Andrew’s favoured. Ahead of the game between Birmingham and Reading, the odds are swinging in the Blues’ direction, but they have only won three of their 11 home games so far in the 2022/23 season.
Defensively, at least, the Eustace side have a very strong record. Birmingham City have conceded just 20 goals in their first 22 league games, making them the third best defensive side in the Championship behind Sheffield United and Coventry City (19 goals each).
Predicted Birmingham line-up:
Ruddy – Trusty – Roberts – Sanderson – Bielik – Longelo – Mejbri – Bacuna – Colin – Chong – Deeney
Last Birmingham Games:
Championship
10/12/2022 – Blackpool 0 – 0 Birmingham
12/11/2022 – Birmingham 1 – 2 Sunderland
09/11/2022 – Birmingham 2 – 2 Swansea
05/11/2022 – Stoke 1 – 2 Birmingham
03/11/2022 – Birmingham 0 – 0 Millwall
Reading – Statistics & current form
Reading Football Club last played in the Premier League between 2006 and 2008 and in the 2012/13 season, but the Berkshire side failed to stay in it long-term on both occasions. Since their last relegation, the Royals have been waiting for another chance to prove themselves and gain a foothold in the country’s top division.
After the club, for which players such as Les Ferdinand have already laced up their football boots, also narrowly missed relegation to the third division last season as 21st in the table, an attack on the top places is to take place again in the new season.
Only two points behind a place for the play-offs
After two wins in a row, the Royals are in eighth place in the table and only two points behind sixth place, which would at least give them a ticket to the play-offs. After picking up only one point out of a possible twelve between Matchday 18 and 21, the Royals have recently won two in a row.
Last Saturday, the Royals broke the defensive artists of Coventry City and celebrated an important 1:0 victory. So it’s interesting to bet on a three-goal win for Paul Ince’s Birmingham against Reading.
First three away victories and eight away goals
Even last season, Reading won both the first and second legs against Birmingham City 2-1 in the process. However, the Royals do not have an impressive away record.
Only three of their eleven away games have been won, with Reading having the second weakest away attack behind Blackburn (seven goals) with just eight goals scored away from home.
Predicted Reading line-up:
Lumley – Mbengue – Holmes – Yiadom – Hendrick – Baba – Fornah – Ince – Hoilett – Méité – Carroll
Last Reading games:
Championship
10/12/2022 – Reading 1 – 0 Coventry
12/11/2022 – Hull 1 – 2 Reading
09/11/2022 – Watford 2 – 0 Reading
05/11/2022 – Reading 1 – 2 Preston
02/11/2022 – Luton 0 – 0 Reading
Birmingham – Reading Direct comparison / H2H balance
Head to head: 17 – 12 – 16
There have been a total of 45 meetings between the two teams so far and the head-to-head record is very even. Last season, however, Reading won both games 2-1 in the Championship.
Birmingham – Reading Tip
Both Birmingham and Reading are currently in a better position than in the poor pre-season. However, the performance data of both teams is not completely convincing. The Blues have won only three of their eleven home games, while the Royals have scored only eight goals in three wins in eleven games away from home. However, because the visitors have won two in a row recently, Birmingham vs Reading is still a good away win prediction to play for.
Last weekend, Reading proved that they can break down a solid defence when they beat Coventry City 1-0. Because the Royals have also won two of their last three away games at St Andrew’s, we’re therefore risking Tip 2.
