Reading v Fulham
Tuesday, 19:45
Live on Sky Sports 3


Reading


Reading boss Jaap Stam deserves plenty of credit for earning the Royals a draw at Craven Cottage on Saturday. Although the Berkshire boys offered little as an attacking force, the visitors' defensive tactics managed to stifle their hosts.

The Dutch tactician was pleased with how his team equipped themselves in the capital; American midfielderDanny Williams led a high-octane performance, pressing Fulham high, disrupting the Cottagers' flow and minimising their final-third threat. 

Reading's goal was perhaps a touch fortunate when an apparent foul by Paul McShane on Stefan Johansen went unpunished but the impressive Jordan Obita was on hand to finish as the space opened up for the visitors.

However, left-back Obita was stretched off at the end of the game and, coupled with McShane's suspension, leaves Stam pondering a defensive re-think. The hosts are hopefulLiam Kelly will overcome illness, Tiago Ilori is waiting in the wings to cover centre-half whilst Tyler Blackett can switch to left-back.

Fulham


Free-scoring Fulham powered a path into the top-six thanks to a collection of scintillating offensive displays during the campaign's conclusion but the Whites were given little space to exploit in a frustrating first leg.

The Cottagers were unable to capitalise against their Royals' 10 men but head coach Slavisa Jokanovicbelieves the west Londoners are still right in the hunt to clinch a place at Wembley later this month.

Fulham will hope full-backs Scott Malone and Ryan Fredericks enjoy more change on Tuesday evening having been nullified by Reading's back-five at the weekend while striker Chris Martin may find his place under threat after an ineffectual performance. 

Neeskens Kebano and former Royals loanee Lucas Piazon are hoping to earn recalls but centre-backs Ragnar Sigurdsson and Michael Madl remain out of action for the Whites.

Match Odds


Reading have W2-D2-L0 in their last four fixtures when welcoming Fulham to the Madjeski Stadium but will hope to enhance their below-par play-off record at home over recent years where the hosts have fired blanks in four of five end-of-season encounters here (W1-D2-L2).

The Royals 3.30 have fared well when welcoming the league's elite, returning W8-D3-L0 against top-half teams at the MadStad but McShane's absence could hurt the hosts. The Irishman has forged an instrumental centre-half partnership with Liam Moore and although Reading have won six of their nine outings here without him, their two home losses came in his absence.

Only Newcastle won more away games than Fulham's2.36 12 road victories during the regular season, so the Cottagers do have the quality to handle this trip, especially after closing the campaign with victories at Norwich, Huddersfield and Sheffield Wednesday.

Jokanovic's charges excel when given space to exploit and although opportunities are likely to be limited in such a high-stakes showdown, I'd prefer to keep the guests onside having W6-D2-L3 at top-half teams already this term.

Over/Under 2.5 Goals


Over 2.5 Goals has been chalked up as the 1.79 market favourite and with 52% of Championship play-off semi-final second legs beating the two-goal line since 1992/93, plus six of Fulham's last seven away days featuring at least three goals, a high-scoring contest is forecast.

But should Reading follow their familiar pattern against the leading lights, goals may not be quite so fruitful. Five of their 11 contests at home to top-half teams were settled by one goal (or none at all) and so I'm happy to steer clear of the Overs/Unders market.

Instead, the 5/4 available on Draw or Away and Both Teams To Score should be considered. A massive 14 of Fulham's past 16 fixtures have produced successful BTTS bets with the Cottagers scoring at least twice in seven of their past eight games as guests.

Reading have failed to score just twice at the Madjeski Stadium since September but the absence of McShane makes the Royals vulnerable at the back in what could prove to be a carbon copy of the first leg fixture.

Recommended Bets

Back draw or away Double Chance and Both Teams To Score @ 5/4



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