Eng. Championship
2011-09-17 - Reading vs Doncaster Rovers
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football : English Championship
Saturday 17 September 2011 - Kickoff 3pm
Reading
To say Reading have made a disappointing start to the season would be one of the understatements of the season so far as a team that was tipped to be fighting for a place in the Premier League has really suffered a Play Off hangover following their defeat at Wembley to Swansea in the Final in May.
Reading come into this game sitting in 23rd position with only their opponents today below them in the table. They have only picked up 4 points from their opening 6 League games and are a disappointing 0-1-2 at home, scoring 3 goals and conceding 6.
A bright start to the season is already a distant memory for the team and supporters as they have lost 5 games in a row in all competitions since beating Leicester City at King Power Stadium in their 2nd game of the season. Reading have been beaten by Barnsley and Watford in their last 2 home games, and have conceded 2 goals in each of their 3 games at the Majedski this season. Reading had lost just 1 in 10 at home in the Championship before these back to back defeats.
Noel Hunt and Hal Robson-Kanu are both doubts for the home side.
Doncaster Rovers
If Reading consider their opening to the season a big disappointment, Doncaster Rovers fans must be worried that the expectations of the layers for their side before the season began will be coming true. They have a long injury list and are struggling to get the necessary results in what looks like being a long season ahead.
Doncaster sit below Reading and prop up the rest of the Championship having secured just 1 point in their opening 6 games of the season. They have lost all 3 of their away games in the League this season, scoring just 1 goal and conceding 7.
6 defeats in 7 games to start the season was not in the scrip for Sean O'Driscoll and his men, but that is what they have been through, although they did stop a 5 game losing run to begin the season with a draw against Bristol City. Doncaster have now lost 7 of their last 9 away games in the Championship and they have conceded 2 goals or more in their last 6.
The team have won 1 of their last 17 away games in the Championship and they have lost 12 of those games.
Shelton Martis and Brian Stock are available for selection again and both are pushing for starting berths. Chris Brown, James Chambers, Martin Woods, Adam Lockwood, Billy Sharp and Ryan Mason are all still missing as the injury list does not seem to shrink.
Head to Head
Reading have won 5 of the last 6 League meetings between the sides, all in the Championship.
The only game they failed to win was here at the Majedski 2 seasons ago.
The last 3 games have all seen plenty of goals when the teams meet one another and all have gone 'Overs' including a 4-3 thriller here last season.
Prediction
I am shocked at the Reading price, who seemed to have been priced up as if they are near the top and not one place above Doncaster.
In saying that, Doncaster are really treading water at the moment and they need to get their squad back up to fitness as soon as possible or they could find themselves cut off from the rest of the Championship before we even reach Christmas.
The one thing I have noticed about these sides is their poor defensive records at the beginning of this season and I think the 'Over 2.5 Goals' market is the best way to get on this game.
Doncaster have conceded at least 2 goals in their last 6 away games in the League, while Reading have conceded 2 goals in each of their home games.
This leads me to believe that both sides will get on the scoreboard, but I still think Reading will be strong enough to pick up a vital 3 points and that should help the game push over.
The 1.92 at Stan James looks a little high for this to happen and will be my pick.
The Pick :
Reading 3-1 Doncaster Rovers
