English Premier
2012-12-01 - Reading vs Manchester United
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 1 December 2012 - Kick Off 5:30pm
This game is live on TV
Reading
Even at this relatively early stage of the season, the late goal scored by Christian Benteke that gave Aston Villa a 1-0 win over Reading could be of huge importance to both sides when it is all said and done in May. Reading don't exactly have the easiest task in bouncing back as they face a Manchester United team leading the Division.
Reading remain in the relegation zone as they are down in 19th place in the Premier League and they are now 4 points from the safety zone, although they do have a game in hand over most of their rivals (and how important could that one be against Sunderland?!) The side have a 1-4-1 record at the Majedski Stadium, scoring 9 goals and conceding 10 in those games.
Back to back losses at Aston Villa and Wigan Athletic over the last week will have taken away all of the positives that came from a 2-1 win over Everton in Reading's last home game. That means the side are unbeaten in their last 5 home games in all competitions since a 1-3 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, although they had drawn 4 in a row before the win over Everton.
Alex McCarthy and Jem Karacan are both still missing for the Royals, while Danny Guthrie and Jimmy Kebe will both be hoping to recover from injuries.
Manchester United
There is little doubt that Manchester United have not exactly been convincing in their last 2 games, but the bottom line is that they have picked up maximum points from those games and will want to keep their League momentum going. It is important for their mentality that they can maintain their lead over Manchester City in the table ahead of the first derby of the season in 8 days time.
Manchester United are back on top of the Premier League thanks to rivals City drawing at Chelsea last weekend, and the positions remain the same with both sides winning during the week. United have a 5-0-2 record away from home this season, scoring 14 goals and conceding 9 in those games and that makes this side the one that has won the most away games in the League so far.
The back to back wins over the last week snapped back to back defeats in all competitions for United, although it will be interesting to see how they perform in this away game. That is down to the fact that those back to back defeats both came away from Old Trafford, although United were previously unbeaten in 8 away games in all competitions, winning 7 of them.
Antonio Valencia, Shinji Kagawa and Nemanja Vidic are all missing, while Nani is back in training. The likes of Rio Ferdinand and Danny Welbeck will be hoping for recalls, while Paul Scholes is back from suspension.
Head to Head
Manchester United are unbeaten in their last 6 visits to Reading, although those games go back to 1927.
In Reading's last time in the top flight, Manchester United won 2 of 3 visits here in all competitions.
Prediction
The odds on a Manchester United win are remarkably short considering some of the issues they have had away from home, but I do believe they will be too strong for Reading in this late afternoon game.
I believe United have too many attacking options for Reading, a team that do concede a large amount of goals at home, but it really wouldn't be a big surprise if both teams are on the scoreboard in this one.
Reading have only failed to score in 1 of their last 17 home games in all competitions, while United have had 1 away clean sheet all season.
I am sticking with Ladbrokes for this game and taking the 3.00 that United win the game even though both teams will get the ball in the net.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Reading 1-3 Manchester United
BEST BETTING TIP :
I'll back Both Teams to Score and Manchester United Win (Match result with both teams to score) @ 3.00 (Ladbrokes)
