"But not only are Reading a decent side with the advantage of playing on home soil, they are also seven points and seven places above Norwich in the Championship table, and they go into this game in terrific form whereas their opponents are in a right mess, far from being at their best."
Reading 2.88 v Norwich 2.70; The Draw 3.40
How the Canaries can be priced up as favourites to win this is an absolute mystery to me.
True, Norwich are perceived to be, and undoubtedly are the better team when at their best. But even then, with the Royals having home advantage and being a decent side themselves I'd still have Jaap Stam's men as marginal favourites.
But not only are Reading a decent side with the advantage of playing on home soil, they are also seven points and seven places above Norwich in the Championship table, and they go into this game in terrific form whereas their opponents are in a right mess, far from being at their best.
In fact if this game had have been played a few weeks ago we'd have a match up between a Reading side that had just won five on the spin, at home to a Norwich side that had just lost five consecutive league games.
Nothing much has changed recently, Reading's form reads seven wins from their last nine matches, whereas it's the complete reversal for Alex Neil's men, seven losses from their last nine games. And at the Madjeski Stadium it's four consecutive victories for the Royals; away from home it's four straight defeats for the Canaries.
There isn't really much to add. I'm just very surprised to see Norwich trading as favourites to win this game given their current form, and especially their away form, so that means that the price about a home win for Stam's in-form side is too big, so we have to back it.
Recommended Bets
Back Reading to Win @ 2.88 (best bet)
Huddersfield 1.77 v Nottm Forest 5.40; The Draw 3.85
David Wagner - who has reportedly turned down the opportunity to manage Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg - has seen his side climb back up to fourth following three straight victories.
Prior to that however the Terriers went five games without a win in the Championship and I believe this is a fairer reflection on their abilities. Perhaps that is a tad harsh because it seems unlikely now that Huddersfield will finish any worse than mid-table, but I still feel that they're overachieving slightly and will struggle to remain in or around the play-off places.
In those five games that Wagner's men went without a win they were thrashed 5-0 at Fulham, lost at home to lowly Wigan, lost at Cardiff, and failed to beat struggling Blackburn. There's plenty of evidence in that recent form to suggest that they are too short at 1.77 to beat Forest in this match.
Philippe Montanier's men haven't been in great form of late themselves but you only have to go back to the beginning of the month to see that Forest won three on the spin, including wins over Ipswich and Newcastle, scoring nine points in the process.
Following the 2-0 home defeat to Wolves last week both Montanier and defender Joe Worrall have questioned the desire of Forest, and that just might spark an improved performance good enough to avoid defeat at least against a Huddersfield team that can be pretty poor when not on song.
Recommended Bet
Lay Huddersfield to Win @ 1.78
Rotherham 3.00 v Wigan 2.50; The Draw 3.50
But put simply, if they lose at home to Wigan - the club immediately above them in the table - on Monday then the South Yorkshire outfit may as well start planning for next season.
Already 12 points adrift of safety the Millers are rock bottom of the Championship and fully 10 points behind Wigan. They have conceded more goals than any side in the division and they have the worst goal difference. They've won just one of their last 18 league matches. It doesn't get much bleaker.
But they still have a tiny bit of hope, and the first step in what would be a miraculous escape should they achieve it is to beat Wigan. I don't see any other option to Paul Warne than to send his side out to attack. Goals, and three points, are a must.
The Latics themselves are in poor form having just lost four on the spin. They lost three consecutive games without scoring a single goal, prompting manager Warren Joyce to admit that his side need to be more attack-minded.
Wigan then lost at home to Ipswich last Saturday, another disappointing result, but Joyce was true to his word and his men battled bravely in a 3-2 defeat. He will feel that getting at Rotherham is his side's best chance of getting back to winning way so hopefully we'll be set up for an entertaining game.
It's a brave shout to wager on goals when you have two of the lowest sides in the division in opposition, but given their current league positions, and the fact that neither side can defend, the banking on the net bulging a few times might just be the way to profit here.
Recommended Bet
Back Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.12
How the Canaries can be priced up as favourites to win this is an absolute mystery to me.
True, Norwich are perceived to be, and undoubtedly are the better team when at their best. But even then, with the Royals having home advantage and being a decent side themselves I'd still have Jaap Stam's men as marginal favourites.
But not only are Reading a decent side with the advantage of playing on home soil, they are also seven points and seven places above Norwich in the Championship table, and they go into this game in terrific form whereas their opponents are in a right mess, far from being at their best.
In fact if this game had have been played a few weeks ago we'd have a match up between a Reading side that had just won five on the spin, at home to a Norwich side that had just lost five consecutive league games.
Nothing much has changed recently, Reading's form reads seven wins from their last nine matches, whereas it's the complete reversal for Alex Neil's men, seven losses from their last nine games. And at the Madjeski Stadium it's four consecutive victories for the Royals; away from home it's four straight defeats for the Canaries.
There isn't really much to add. I'm just very surprised to see Norwich trading as favourites to win this game given their current form, and especially their away form, so that means that the price about a home win for Stam's in-form side is too big, so we have to back it.
Recommended Bets
Back Reading to Win @ 2.88 (best bet)
Huddersfield 1.77 v Nottm Forest 5.40; The Draw 3.85
David Wagner - who has reportedly turned down the opportunity to manage Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg - has seen his side climb back up to fourth following three straight victories.
Prior to that however the Terriers went five games without a win in the Championship and I believe this is a fairer reflection on their abilities. Perhaps that is a tad harsh because it seems unlikely now that Huddersfield will finish any worse than mid-table, but I still feel that they're overachieving slightly and will struggle to remain in or around the play-off places.
In those five games that Wagner's men went without a win they were thrashed 5-0 at Fulham, lost at home to lowly Wigan, lost at Cardiff, and failed to beat struggling Blackburn. There's plenty of evidence in that recent form to suggest that they are too short at 1.77 to beat Forest in this match.
Philippe Montanier's men haven't been in great form of late themselves but you only have to go back to the beginning of the month to see that Forest won three on the spin, including wins over Ipswich and Newcastle, scoring nine points in the process.
Following the 2-0 home defeat to Wolves last week both Montanier and defender Joe Worrall have questioned the desire of Forest, and that just might spark an improved performance good enough to avoid defeat at least against a Huddersfield team that can be pretty poor when not on song.
Recommended Bet
Lay Huddersfield to Win @ 1.78
Rotherham 3.00 v Wigan 2.50; The Draw 3.50
But put simply, if they lose at home to Wigan - the club immediately above them in the table - on Monday then the South Yorkshire outfit may as well start planning for next season.
Already 12 points adrift of safety the Millers are rock bottom of the Championship and fully 10 points behind Wigan. They have conceded more goals than any side in the division and they have the worst goal difference. They've won just one of their last 18 league matches. It doesn't get much bleaker.
But they still have a tiny bit of hope, and the first step in what would be a miraculous escape should they achieve it is to beat Wigan. I don't see any other option to Paul Warne than to send his side out to attack. Goals, and three points, are a must.
The Latics themselves are in poor form having just lost four on the spin. They lost three consecutive games without scoring a single goal, prompting manager Warren Joyce to admit that his side need to be more attack-minded.
Wigan then lost at home to Ipswich last Saturday, another disappointing result, but Joyce was true to his word and his men battled bravely in a 3-2 defeat. He will feel that getting at Rotherham is his side's best chance of getting back to winning way so hopefully we'll be set up for an entertaining game.
It's a brave shout to wager on goals when you have two of the lowest sides in the division in opposition, but given their current league positions, and the fact that neither side can defend, the banking on the net bulging a few times might just be the way to profit here.
Recommended Bet
Back Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.12
Whether Reading win, lose, or draw this game at home to Norwich the Championship will never cease to amaze me when it comes to some Match Odds.
Huddersfield deserve enormous credit for getting back into the title race - or race to secure a play-off slot given Newcastle and Brighton's dominance of the Championship - but I think they are ridiculously short to win for the fourth game running on Boxing Day.
The likelihood is that Rotherham will very much be playing League One football next season. The reality is they're not dead and buried just yet.
