Reading will be looking to improve on their patchy away record when they make the trip to Carrow Road on Friday to take on a Norwich side playing their first match since Dean Smith’s sacking.
A 2-1 defeat to 10-man Luton on Boxing Day proved to be the final straw for the Norwich board, who removed Smith from his position the following day and placed Allan Russell and Steve Weaver in temporary charge for the next two games.
First up for the coaching duo is Friday’s visit of Reading, who recorded their third win in the last four matches last time out and are now only behind fifth-place Norwich on goal difference as their battle for the playoffs intensifies.
Norwich vs Reading Betting Tips
Team news
Aaron Ramsey, on-loan from Aston Villa, has been ruled out for Norwich as he continues to recover from injury, while fellow midfielder Todd Cantwell is back on the grass after a groin issue, but this clash may come too soon for him.
Defender Sam McCallum missed out against Luton Town last time out due to illness, but he is pushing to return to the fold and could be handed his eighth Championship start of the campaign.
As for Reading, Ince has no new issues to contend with and he could name the same starting XI that edged past Swansea City at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Tuesday.
Reading to Win and BTTS @ 8/1
With Norwich still searching for a new manager, this is arguably Reading’s best chance to record a first victory at Carrow Road since a 2-1 triumph in November 2014.
The Royals have won three of their last four outings – beating Hull, Coventry and Swansea – but they have struggled on the road and have picked up just one win from their previous seven assignments.
Improvment on their travels is required if they are going to force their way into the play-off positions, but there is enough to like about their performances of late and they can pile the misery on Norwich.
The Canaries have lost three of their last four and they have conceded six times during those defeats, while they have only managed to keep two clean sheets from the last 13 attempts.
With the last 12 meetings between these two sides seeing both teams score, backing Reading to win and BTTS looks like it could be the betting route to go down in this one.
Tom Ince to Score Anytime @ 9/2
It’s never easy playing under a family member, especially when your dad is the manager of the team, but Tom Ince has been thriving under his father, Paul, this season and the forward can continue his fine form on Friday.
The 30-year-old signed for the Royals permanently after impressing on loan in the second half of the 2021/22 campaign and he has been sharp this term, netting five times from 23 appearances to sit as his club’s joint-top goalscorer.
Ince has scored twice across his last two games for Reading, including in their last away trip, and he looks a good price at 9/2 to find the back of the net anytime at Carrow Road.
