The Championship Betting: In-form Reading set for a tough afternoon at the Riverside

Championship / Andrew French / 18 March 2010 / Leave a Comment

Gordon Strachan has brought in many new faces since he arrived at Middlesbrough, but his club still sit some way of the pace in their quest to reach the play-offs

"As Nottingham Forest’s away form appears to have totally deserted them (six consecutive defeats), their stunning home form is essential to their hopes of promotion. Forest have won 10 on the bounce at the City Ground, a run which has seen them score 27 times and concede a meagre four."

Despite winning four on the bounce, Reading will struggle to get anything from their visit to Middlesbrough says Andrew French. Our man also expects Nottingham Forest to maintain their promotion push and Blackpool to win again.

Reading may be top of the Championship's current form table, but scratch below the surface of the statistics and you'll find good reason to back Middlesbrough to beat them this weekend.

The Royals have won four consecutive league games as new manager Brain McDermott charts a path to safety away from what had threatened to be a relegation battle. You can't knock four wins - but all four have been at home, and all of them came against sides below Reading in the table. The last time they played a league game away from the Madejski was the last time they lost - 2-0 at Blackpool in late February.

Middlesbrough's attempts to get back to the Premier League have fallen way behind those of neighbours Newcastle - new boss Gordon Strachan has rung the changes but they still sit some way short of the play-off places. But their recent home form is strong - unbeaten in seven with three wins in their last four. Therefore, I think Boro are the best bet of the weekend at [2.18].

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It can't be much fun being a travelling Sheffield United fan. Seven consecutive league defeats - they last tasted away-day success on December 5. And if they're not careful that abysmal sequence on the road is going to seriously hamper their play-off chances. The Blades are seventh, but with sixth-placed Cardiff having a game in hand, United could find themselves five points adrift soon. Therefore, they simply have to turn around this awful set of results on their travels - and I think they can get something from what looks a tricky trip to Doncaster.

Sean O'Driscoll's side are definitely exceeding expectations as they are only a place and a point behind United. Yet their recent home form isn't too clever: only two wins in six. That gives Sheffield United a glimmer of hope, and at [2.36], I'm prepared to lay Donny.

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No goals and only one point from the last three games underline the task in hand for Paul Hart as he attempts to save Crystal Palace from the drop. Their points deduction has seemingly had an effect on morale, and the Eagles are only above the drop zone on goal difference. This weekend they visit Blackpool, who may have slipped slightly from the highs of earlier in the season, but they are still incredibly hard to control at Bloomfield Road. Ian Holloway's side have won their last three at home without conceding a goal. At [2.0], I suggest backing Pool.

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As Nottingham Forest's away form appears to have totally deserted them (six consecutive defeats), their stunning home form is essential to their hopes of promotion. Forest have won 10 on the bounce at the City Ground, a run which has seen them score 27 times and concede a meagre four. They won't get a better chance of improving that than a visit from basement boys Peterborough. I endured Posh's first away-win of the season at Watford last weekend, and much as you couldn't deny they worked their socks off for it, they are extremely unlikely to find Forest as low on confidence and ideas as the Hornets were. Even at [1.52], Forest are backable for me.

*Andrew is showing a profit of approximately £260 (£10 level stake/liability) on all his selections so far this season