Reading vs Swansea Odds & Prediction – EFL Championship Round 44

• The EFL Championship playoff race heats up on Sunday as Reading FC plays host to Swansea City as betting favorites
• Reading are desperate for a win to remain in the hunt for a spot among the top six, while Swansea aim to keep their hopes for a second-place finish alive 
• We’ve got you covered with all the odds and trends ahead of Sunday morning’s Championship clash at Madejski Stadium

Two clubs jockeying for position in the race for an EFL championship playoff spot clash on Sunday, as Reading FC play host to Swansea City as +125 favorites.

The Royals have fallen outside the playoff picture, to seventh place on the Championship table, while posting just one win in their past eight league matches. Listed as lengthy +220 underdogs ahead of Sunday’s tilt, the Swans have also struggled of late.

The club has failed to score on five occasions during a dismal 2-1-5 win-draw-loss run in league action. However, they have enjoyed success on the road, outscoring opponents by a wide 5-0 margin during a two-match win streak.

Here’s a look at all the odds and trends ahead of Sunday morning’s Round 44 matchup at 7:00am ET at Madejski Stadium.

Reading FC vs Swansea City Odds

*Odds as of April 24, 2021.

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Reading’s Promotion Hopes Fading Fast

Reading FC have seen their chances of promotion take a massive hit during their recent slide. After climbing into contention during a steady 8-3-4 run that started on Boxing Day, things have steadily gone downhill.

Winners in just one of their past eight league contests, the Royals now sit below the line in seventh place, six points adrift of sixth-place Barnsley FC, and have tumbled to a distant +1200 bet to finish the campaign among the top six.

This league!#EFL | #SkyBetChampionship pic.twitter.com/WtElapd1i0

— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) April 21, 2021

The Royals have struggled at both ends of the pitch during their current slide. The club is coming off a scoreless draw in Luton City on Wednesday, and have now been blanked in two of their past three contests.

Meite Powering Royals Attack

Consistency has remained a concern on home turf. Reading have alternated between lengthy stretches of success and futility at home. And while they are currently unbeaten in their past five contests at Madejski Stadium, they have been forced to settle for 1-1 draws in two of their past three.

Players with the best shot accuracy in the Championship:

1️⃣ Yakou Meite – 58.7% of shots are on target
2️⃣ Andre Gray – 52.9%
3️⃣ Sean Morrison – 50%
➡️ Tom Barkhuizen – 50%
➡️ Famara Diedhiou – 50%
➡️ Scott Sinclair – 50%
7️⃣ Jamal Lowe – 47.2%@Yaks75 #ReadingFC pic.twitter.com/bg7fms9ItD

— The Second Tier (@secondtierpod) April 16, 2021

While goals have been rare, the Royals have received steady production from Yakou Meite. The 25-year-old striker has accounted for four of the club’s eight total goals during their current eight-match swoon, and will have a lot to prove after picking up a red card in the club’s 4-1 loss at home to Swansea last summer.

Reading FC vs Swansea City Head-to-Head Stats

Playoff Berth Within Reach for Swans

The Swans remain in control of their own destiny entering the weekend. And with an eight-point lead over Reading with just three matches remaining on the league schedule, Swansea can clinch a playoff spot simply by avoiding defeat in Sunday morning’s matchup.

The club have lifted themselves above the line with outstanding performances on the road. With their recent lopsided away wins over Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday, the Swans have now kept clean sheets on five occasions while compiling a 7-1-3 record in 11 road dates since Boxing Day.

Swansea Dominant at Madejski Stadium

Swansea has also dominated the Royals in recent non-friendly clashes at Madejski Stadium, outscoring Reading by a wide 15-4 overall margin while going 5-1-0 over their past six. That run includes back-to-back 4-1 victories in their past two league meetings in Reading.

Swansea City head coach Steve Cooper reflects on last season's heroics at Reading. He's hoping his side can seal a playoff spot against the Royals on Sunday.

⚽ https://t.co/RISNbA2zez pic.twitter.com/SzyD65OFfh

— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) April 23, 2021

But while a single point is all the Swans need on Sunday, the result of Saturday morning’s matchup between Watford FC and Millwall could impact their game plan versus Reading.

Swansea enters the weekend lagging nine points back of second-place Watford on the league table, with the two clubs set to clash in a season finale matchup on May 8. Look for the road warrior Swans to maintain their winning ways in away dates with Reading, and pull off the upset in decisive fashion.

The Picks: Swans +220; OVER 2.5 (+125)

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