Football Bet of the Day: Bluebirds can hit the right note in Reading

Reading v Cardiff
Monday 20:00 (Live on Sky Sports Football)

Augsburg 1 Hertha Berlin 1 left Kev a goal short in Germany yesterday. As he heads out to the coal shed again for another round of present buying, we're off to Berkshire.

Second-placed Cardiff can slash Wolves' lead at the top to just a couple of points if they can win at Reading tonight, and we're giving them a decent shot at doing exactly that.

Neil Warnock's boys have recently won four in a row at home and away, scoring eight times while conceding just once. Since the start of the season, the Bluebirds are W6-D1-L3 on the road. They even won at Wolves back in August. More recently, they've notched clean sheets in 3/4 and look well capable of withstanding anything Reading might through at them.

Sixteenth-placed Reading have been shut out in 3/5 at the Madejski recently. And their last three visits from teams now in the Championship's top eight have brought 0-1, 0-2 and 0-2 defeats. Jaap Stam's men are an unassuming W3-D3-L4 hosting all-comers this season.

Reading have at least shown a little more robustness in recent weeks, going unbeaten in four at home and away. We'll give them a small doff of the cap for that and back Cardiff 0 & -0.5 on the Asian Handicap - which means we'll get half our stake back if tonight's game finishes all-square.

Recommended Bet
Back Cardiff 0 & -0.5 on the Asian Handicap @ 2.407/5 v Reading