Reading’s fine start to the season seems to have abated and they could have their work cut out when Swansea visit on Tuesday.
The Swans have become the Championship’s draw specialists, taking a share of the spoils in five of their last seven games, most recently recovering from 3-0 down at Coventry to draw 3-3.
Reading lost 3-2 at Birmingham in their last game and are seemingly on the slide. Therefore, this festive fixture offers a real chance for Swansea to grab their first competitive win since October.
Reading vs Swansea Betting Tips
Team news
Lucas Joao scored off the bench for Reading in their 3-2 defeat at Birmingham and could be pushing for a place in Paul Ince’s starting XI.
Junior Hoilett may also come back into the side but Andy Carroll is likely to be retained as a substitute.
The game also comes too early for Liam Moore, who is still to play this season due to a long-term knee injury.
Oliver Cooper is a contender to start for the Swans after impressing off the bench against Coventry.
Joe Allen is also thought to be in the mix after recovering from the hamstring injury that plagued his World Cup campaign with Wales.
Swansea to win @ 7/5
Reading started the season well but appear to have lost momentum and have lost three of their last five Championship outings.
Their home form this season is decent, winning seven of their 11 outings at the Select Car Leasing Stadium but they have slipped up against West Brom and Preston in two of their last four outings in Berkshire.
Swansea, meanwhile, have endured a frustrating time of it, failing to get a win since October but still play thrilling football and score lots of goals, with that draw at Coventry the 10th time this season that they have scored two or more goals in a game.
History is also on their side, having avoided defeat in their last 10 competitive trips to Reading, a run stretching back to 2008.
#PickYourPunt – Joel Piroe to score and over 3.5 Goals in the game @ 5/1
Goals could well be on the agenda in Berkshire, with three or more scored in five of the last six meetings.
In fact, the last three head-to-head meetings have produced a total of 18 goals and Swansea striker Joel Piroe scored two of those in last season’s 4-4 draw in this game.
The 23-year-old ended his recent scoring drought at Coventry and seems to gets goals in batches, grabbing four in five earlier in the campaign.
Piroe seems destined for bigger things and with the January window less than a week away, might feel he has a point to prove after being overlooked last summer.
