Everton v Reading Prediction 2nd March 2013

Everton v Reading Betting Preview
The Toffees have been slipping away in their race for a top five finish and to get a place in Europe next season. They have fallen five points behind fifth place now as they are on a three match streak without a win. Reading too have seen their form sliding away in their fight to avoid relegation and are back in trouble again after losing their last two in a row. So both really need a return to winning ways. Who will get the precious points?

Everton v Reading Betting Odds at online bookmaker Bet Victor
Everton 4/11, Draw 7/2, Reading 15/2

Everton v Reading Recommended Bet:
It has just been wrong for Everton a little bit lately, as they lost their last two matches, both away from home, against Manchester United and Norwich. Still you can look for some positives in their home form, as they have lost just one of their Premier League matches at Goodison Park. You really can’t argue with that and they will naturally be a bit stronger than the visiting Royals. The Toffees came through a relatively easy match against Oldham in an FA Cup replay in the week, so at least they rediscovered their winning touch. At home in the Premier League this season, Everton have scored at a rate of 1.7 goals per game and have conceded at a rate of 1.2 per game. So they haven’t been as strong defensively as they usually are, but have been thoroughly entertaining. Almost 70% of their home games have gone over 2.5 goals.

The Toffees have won just two of their five EPL meetings against Reading, and four of those five prior meetings have gone under 2.5 goals. It didn’t at the Madejski earlier in the season when Everton took a 2-1 win. Interestingly, only Southampton and Reading have dropped more points from winning positions than Everton this term. Reading haven’t kept a clean sheet on the road this season and are the only side in the Premier League to have conceded a goal in each of their away games. That doesn’t put them in great standing for a trip to Merseyside. The Royals have won eight points thanks to goals scored after the 80th minute, which is second to only Manchester United’s points haul of nine.

Reading have been poor on the road, losing seven of their last eight. Their only win came at Newcastle while they were in a stretch of good from in January. But with back to back defeats in the league, the Royals have had the wind knocked out of them. How easily they were beaten at home by Wigan last weekend was a worrying sign for them. It has left them in trouble at second from bottom and with the joint second worst defensive record in the season, this may all add up to a good opportunity for Everton to rediscover their winning form. Hard to see Brian McDermott’s Royals getting anything out of this, given their away form and Everton’s strengths at home. It may be worth looking at Both Teams to Score for a price of Evens at online bookmaker Bet Victor.

Form
Everton WDLDLW, Reading WDWLLL

Stat Attack
The Toffees have lost just one home game this season
Everton have won just two of their five previous EPL matches against Reading
Four of the five EPL meetings have gone under 2.5 goals
Reading have conceded in every away game this season

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