Championship / Mike Norman / 16 April 2012 /

A win for Reading should all but seal promotion to the top-flight says Mike Norman, but our man is desperately hoping the Royals win the title to land some juicy pre-season bets.

Bristol City v West Ham, KO: Tuesday 19:45, Match Odds: Bristol City [5.2], West Ham [1.78], The Draw [4.0]

West Ham were quite brilliant on Saturday, re-igniting their automatic promotion hopes - and dashing Brighton's play-off chances - with a thumping 6-0 win at Upton Park. Ricardo Vaz Te scored a hat-trick in that game, his eighth goal in his last five matches.

It all means that the final automatic promotion place (Reading are up for me, see below) rests between the Hammers and Southampton, and with Sam Allardyce's men arguably being the best away side in the division then they can take a huge step towards the Premier League with a win at Ashton Gate.

The Hammers - as well as Vaz Te - are in terrific goalscoring form, scoring 13 goals in just their last three games, whilst away from home West Ham are unbeaten in six, including wins at promotion-chasing Cardiff and Blackpool.

Bristol City have given themselves a fantastic chance of beating the drop, going on a five-game unbeaten run including wins over relegation rivals Coventry and Nottingham Forest. That would give them plenty of confidence normally, but I just wonder what losing a 2-0 lead at Birmingham on Saturday has done to their mindsets. Besides that, West Ham are a far better side anyway and should win.

Back West Ham @ [1.78]

Coventry v Millwall, KO: Tuesday 19:45, Match Odds: Coventry [2.34], Millwall [3.3], The Draw [3.5]

It has been well documented by regular Championship columnist Andrew French (who will be back at the weekend by the way) how poor Coventry are on their travels, but at the Ricoh Arena they are very much a mid-table side.

Andy Thorn's outfit are unbeaten in six on home soil and they have lost just one of their last nine league games all told. There have been far too many draws (six in those nine games) in that sequence however and they simply must win their last two home games if they want to avoid playing League One football next season. A visit from 'nothing-to-play-for' Millwall presents the Sky Blues with an excellent chance of getting the first of those wins.

The Lions are on a decent run, winning their last three league games, but that probably helps the price on the home side. I remember Kenny Jackett's men losing 3-1 at Nottingham Forest a few weeks ago (after I'd backed them) and they've lost their last three games against Coventry at the Ricoh. Those factors, and City's need for a win, pushes me in the direction of the home side.

Back Coventry @ [2.34]

Reading v Nottingham Forest, KO: Tuesday 20:00, Match Odds: Reading [1.54], Nottm Forest [7.2], The Draw [4.3]

Put simply, Reading have been fantastic in 2012 and thoroughly deserve to go up as champions. I'm confident they will.

Before a ball was even kicked in the Championship this season I tipped West Ham at [5.4] and Reading at [18.0] to win the title, whilst in another preview I tipped Reading at [6.8] for promotion. West Ham were available to lay at [1.8] a few months back, whilst you can currently lay Reading at [1.25] in the Championship Winner market and at [1.07] in the Promotion market. I'm obviously sitting very pretty, but I'd love the Royals to complete the job.

Brian McDermott's men have won an incredible 14 of their last 16 league games, showing their class to bounce back from a loss to Peterborough last month by winning five on the bounce, including that superb 1-3 win at Southampton on Friday night. They've won seven straight at the Madejski Stadium, and an eighth straight victory will all but seal promotion to the Premier League.

Standing in Reading's way is Nottingham Forest. Steve Cotterill's men have pulled clear of the relegation zone thanks to six league wins since February, but facing an in-form, full-of-confidence Reading side will be a huge task. An easy home win should be the outcome.

Back Reading @ [1.54]
Back Reading & West Ham Betfair Multiple @ [2.68]

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