A place in the FA Cup semi-finals up for grabs at Eastlands on Sunday evening and Reading might just fancy their chances of causing a shock.
The Championship side travel to take on Manchester City and at first glance this looks a home banker. The Royals are in terrific form however and are more than capable of causing the hosts problems.
Reading ruffled a few feathers in their two-season stay in the Premier League a few seasons back and, currently suiting just six points off a playoff place, with a game in hand, they’ll think they can grace the English top-flight once again come August. Today’s clash is the priority however and Reading are scoring goals for fun at the moment.
A surprise 1-0 win at Goodison over Everton in the last 16 teed up Reading for their tilt at big-spending Manchester City and two victories since the triumph on Merseyside have followed.
Beating Middlesbrough 5-2 at the Madjeski Stadium came before an impressive 3-1 win at Ipswich and Reading should have no fears at Eastlands, despite the calibre of opposition.
It would be foolish to suggest that Brian McDermott’s men hold anything other than outside claims against Roberto Mancini’s side but Reading have a decent away record this term and go into the match unbeaten in seven matches in all competitions.
No bigger than 1.40 to reach the last four, I’ve no interest in backing a City side that were extremely tame in defeat in Kiev in the Europa League on Thursday and, while this represents their best shot at silverware, City might have to do it the hard way.
Big things were expected at the turn of the year when Mancini and his team were contesting for the title but they’ve fallen somewhat off the pace with just three wins in their last eight Premier League matches and I haven’t been impressed for quiet some time now.
With the goals drying up for Carlos Tevez, it is just one in eight matches, and that against Notts County, City lack a talisman and I want to take them on.
A replay could well beckon and we won’t do too much damage laying 1.40 shots throughout the campaign.
2pts Lay Man City (vs. Reading) @ 1.42 (Betfair)