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Tony Pulis has well and truly made his mark on Sheffield Wednesday. It didn’t take long. The Owls are undefeated in three games since he took over – but they’re also winless. They’ve lost one and drawn the last two since Pulis’ arrival at Hillsborough but they’ve been struggling going forward.
Reading recorded a long overdue win against Bristol City at the weekend after losing four and drawing one in the five before that. They’re still in the playoffs because of their incredible start to the season which saw them pick up 22 points from the first 24 on offer.
Wednesday 7.45pm: Sheffield Wednesday v Reading
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They are 6th with 26 points from 14 games with eight wins, two draws and four losses. Wednesday are second bottom with eight points (they had six deducted over the summer) from three wins, five draws and six defeats.
It’s an intriguing contest on offer on Wednesday night which sees Pulis chasing his first win and Reading desperate to prove they’ve rediscovered their mojo. On paper it looks like an away win is likely here but, despite their obvious flaws, Wednesday are not to be taken lightly.
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The Draw
As predicted here and in many other places, Sheffield Wednesday are putting even more of an emphasis on defence, but that’s come at a cost going forward. Since the Welshman’s arrival Wednesday have had just two shots on target in the last three games. They’ve recorded seven off target, leading to just nine attempts in 270 minutes.
They will be hard to beat but they hardly pose any threat going forward. After a tight start, Reading have opened up at both ends of the pitch in recent weeks with goals flying in all over the place. It’s a complete contrast in style but one thing these two have in common is their poor form.
Reading will dominate the ball and field possession in this one but it’s unclear whether we can rely on them to win here with any confidence. Veljko Paunovic’s side will do all the running but Pulis will, you feel, be more street smart and this is the kind of game that will play into his hands with a counter attacking sucker punch or a bruising set-piece breakthrough.
It’s hard to see Wednesday conceding more than one and equally difficult to see them scoring more than one as well. Reading’s defence, which has gone seven games without a clean sheet, is too unreliable to put any weight behind at the moment so all things considered we’re plumping with The Draw.
Both Teams To Score
While Sheffield Wednesday have been turgid going forward, there is no doubt that Reading are still very naïve at the back and if The Owls are going to net anywhere it’s going to be here.
The Royals have conceded 18 goals this season, with 14 of those coming in the last seven games. Wednesday have scored a pitiful seven goals all season but, with unfavourable prices on offer for our likely Over/Unders outcome, Both Teams To Score could prove fruitful if Reading’s poor defensive performances continue.
Lucas Joao to Score Anytime
Lucas Joao is a man in form. The ex-Sheffield Wednesday forward has netted in Reading’s last three games and he’s not let the carnage unfolding in the backline stop him from doing his job.
He’s already bagged nine league goals in 13 games this season and is on penalty duty. It’s hard to see Reading scoring from a set piece against The Owls and Joao slotting a ball bouncing around the box or from the spot against his former club at some point in this game is your safest bet.
Tips for Sheffield Wednesday v Reading
The Draw
Both Teams To Score
Lucas Joao to Score Anytime
These three selections in a Same Game Multi will give you odds of around 8/1 with Paddy Power.
*All prices in copy correct at time of publication and they’re always bang on with our clever betting banners.
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