Birmingham v Reading Betting Tips
Birmingham to Win & Both Teams to Score
Alfie May First Goalscorer
Femi Azeez to have 1 or more Shots on Target
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
Birmingham v Reading
League One match at St Andrew’s, Birmingham
TV: Sky Sports Football/Main Event, Saturday, 17:30
Birmingham to Win & Both Teams to Score
Birmingham are by far the favourites to take the League One title this season following their relegation from the Championship last term. Temporary boss Gary Rowett’s Blues made a fist of things towards the end of the season but were it was too little too late and they were banished to League One.
They’ve been particularly savvy over the summer in signing Alfie May from Charlton Athletic (more on him below) and they worked pretty hard in their preseason friendlies too, winning five of their seven games, beating West Brom and Rangers among them.
Blues won three of their last five home competitive games losing the other two so should start off the season pretty well, particularly after being bolstered by those confidence-helping friendly wins and, they actually only lost seven times at home last season.
Reading were absolutely awful on the road last season in League One, winning just four games while losing 13, shipping 46 goals. They had a good goal-scoring record though, scoring 29 over their 23 away matches. They scored five over their three away friendies too and scored in all 10 of their most recent away competitive fixtures.
Birmingham’s experience and good run of late should see them over the line but Reading will likely be getting on the scoresheet too.
Alfie May First Goalscorer
As mentioned above, new Blues boss Chris Davies (most famous, probably, for being Brendan Rodgers’ No.2 and plenty of clubs) landing Alfie May looks like a great bit of business. We hope we don’t jinx this for your Blues fans, but he’s netted five in six over those friendlies and scored a very healthy 23 League One goals for Charlton last season, as well as four cup goals too.
He’s in great form already and we’re liking the odds for him to open the scoring at St Andrews.
Femi Azeez to have 1 or more Shots on Target
Femi Azeez played all 46 games for Reading last season, scoring a respectable eight goals and assisted nine. This was a huge improvement on his injury-hit Championship season before that where he didn’t score in any of his 20 games.
He’s scored two over Reading’s last three friendlies too so he’ll be coming into this game with a bit of pep in his step. Despite the hosts not losing too many last season in the Championship, they still managed to concede 31 goals. Reading manager Ruben Selles will be all too aware of this and no doubt will be telling his attackers to take their chances when they arrive.
Birmingham v Reading Betting Tips
Birmingham to Win & Both Teams to Score
Alfie May First Goalscorer
Femi Azeez to have 1 or more Shots on Target
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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