There's 6 games from the UK on offer tonight and I've covered 3 of them with two fixtures from the Championship and 1 from up North as 3rd placed Aberdeen travel to 4th placed Hearts in what should be a feisty encounter on Gorgie Street. Here are the Key Facts for the best of the action tonight. 20:00 - Reading vs Fulham
Prediction 2.1 Key Facts * Reading have won 5 in a row at home in the league while they have lost only 1 of their last 12 at home * Reading have won 8 of their last 10 league fixtures, helping them to rise to 3rd in the table * Reading have seen BTTS in 5 of their last 7 at home including each of the last 3 * 5 of Reading's last 6 home league fixtures have gone over 2.5 goals. 4 of those also saw BTTS * Reading have seen 7 of their last 8 Championship matches going over 2.5 goals * Reading have scored in 13 of their last 14 home league fixtures * Reading have scored 2 goals or more in each of their last 5 home league fixtures (all wins) * Fulham are unbeaten in their last 5 league fixtures while they have lost only 1 of their last 9 in the league and only 2 of their last 11 on the road * Fulham have seen BTTS and over 2.5 goals in 3 of their last 4 league fixtures * Fulham have also seen over 2.5 goals scored in 5 of their last 6 league games. 25 goals were scored in those 6 games * Fulham have seen BTTS in 4 of their last 7 away league games * Each of the last 7 meetings between these two sides have seen over 2.5 goals scored. 5 of those games also saw BTTS * Fulham smashed Reading 5.0 just 4 weeks ago in the reverse fixture in the league * Fulham have scored 15 goals in their last 5 league fixtures * Fulham have scored 13 goals in their last 6 away league fixtures Final Verdict Over 2.5 goals looks the pick here as 3rd placed Reading welcome an on form Fulham side in what could be the best of the games on offer from the Championship this evening. Reading will be desperate for some revenge with a 5.0 hammering at Fulham earlier this month still fresh in the memory and while I don't expect a repeat outcome in terms of the final score-line, I do expect this fixture to produce goals with recent form and historical meetings between these two sides the basis for my goals selections here. Reading have won 5 in a row at home while Fulham are unbeaten in their last 5 and I expect good things from these two sides tonight. Goals should be shared but one way or another I expect this one to go over 2.5 goals at least. The visitors are strong and quick on the break while Reading will look to assert their home authority and I expect a high quality affair with goals in the offing. This fixture has been something of a belter in the last 4 years with each of the last 7 meetings between these two sides going over 2.5 goals with 6 of those games actually seeing more than 3.5 goals! 5 of those games also saw BTTS and when you look at both sides recent form in the league and their recent form in the goals markets, particularly the over 2.5 selection, it becomes apparent that backing over 2.5 goals @7/10 is the best choice for this match. BTTS is short at 4/7 but seems likely so I will be trying the combination selection as well here. Best Bets Over 2.5 goals @7/10 BTTS and over 2.5 goals @20/21 __________________________________________________________________________________________ 19:45 Brighton vs Cardiff Prediction 2.1 Key Facts * Brighton are in tremendous form, unbeaten in 17 in the league with 9 wins from their last 11 fixtures * Brighton have scored 2 goals or more in 6 of their last 8 home league fixtures and in 5 of their 6 most recent league fixtures * Brighton have lost only 1 of their last 23 home league fixtures * Brighton have won 5 of their last 6 home league fixtures * Brighton have kept clean-sheets in 8 of their 12 home fixtures this season * Brighton have seen BTTS in 4 of their last 7 league fixtures and in 2 of their last 5 at home * Cardiff have conceded 2 goals or more in 7 of their last 10 away league fixtures * Cardiff have seen BTTS in 7 of their last 8 league games and in each of their last 5 away league fixtures * Cardiff have scored in 8 of their last 10 away league fixtures. The Bluebirds managed 13 goals in those 8 games. * Cardiff have scored 2 goals or more in their last 3 league fixtures * 4 of the last 5 meetings between these two sides have finished in draws * Cardiff are unbeaten in their last 6 away visits to Brighton in all competitions. Final Verdict Brighton sit proudly at the top of the Championship and I expect them to continue their fine recent form by picking up the points at home to struggling Cardiff this evening. I'm taking the hosts to score 2 or more @8/11 odds with recent form on both sides suggesting this to be quite a likely outcome. Brighton are strong defensively, and it takes a brave man to back them to concede but Cardiff have scored a few lately, especially on their travels with BTTS coming up in each of their last 5 on the road. BTTS is big at 11/10 and while it is not my favourite pick in this match, it could be worth a shout although Brighton's strong defensive record, especially at home, makes that selection, somewhat optimistic. Yet it is Cardiff's defensive frailties that have lead me to my selection of Brighton to score 2 or more here @8/11 odds. The Welsh side often concede 2 or more in the road (7 of their last 10) while Brighton's own recent form (2 or more in 5 of their last 6) suggests they should be capable of bringing up my selection here in what should be another home win for the league leaders. Best Bets Brighton to score 2 or more @8/11 BTTS @11/10 ________________________________________________________________________________________ Hearts v Aberdeen Prediction - 1.2 Key Facts * Hearts are unbeaten in their last 9 home league fixtures * The Jambos have scored 22 goals in those 9 unbeaten games at home * Hearts have managed 5 clean-sheets in their last 7 home league fixtures * 5 of Hearts last 10 league games have finished in goal-scoring draws * Hearts have scored in 33 of their last 35 home Premier league fixtures since 2014 * Hearts have been hit by the long term injury loss of Scottish International Callum Patterson * Hearts have only won 3 of their last 11 league fixtures * New boss Cathro acheived his first win in 4 attempts as Hearts thrashed Kilmarnock 4.0 in their last outing on Tuesday * 4 of the last 5 meetings between these two sides in Edinburgh have seen BTTS * Aberdeen have won 5 of their last 8 away league games. * Aberdeen have seen over 2.5 goals in 8 of their last 9 away league fixtures * Abeedeen have seen BTTS and over 2.5 goals in each of their last 5 away league fixtures * Going back even further, 14 of Aberdeen's last 19 away in the league have seen BTTS and over 2.5 goals. That's 73% of all fixtures * Aberdeen have kept just 2 clean-sheets in their last 15 away league fixtures * However the Dons usually score on the road, having done so in 26 of their last 30 away league fixtures since the start of last season. Final Verdict Both sides are not without their flaws but both also like to attack and I expect BTTS @7/10 here while the stats also suggest this one is more likely than not, to go over 2.5 goals. Try the double @6/5 but play it safe with the BTTS selection. I fancy the Dons to maybe steal this one although Hearts home form would suggest a draw is a more likely outcome so let's keep it simple and play it safe with BTTS @7/10. Best Bets BTTS @7/10 FRIDAY BEST BETS Brighton to score 2 or more @8/11 - NAP Reading v Fulham - Over 2.5 goals @7/10 Hearts v Aberdeen - BTTS @7/10 Reading v Fulham - BTTS and over 2.5 goals @20/21 Comments are closed.
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