Reading v Everton: Expect Royals to go without a win again

Reading’s search for their maiden league win of the campaign continues when David Moyes’ high-flying Toffees visit the Madejski.

Things don’t look good for Brian McDermott and his brave band of battling Royals who, for all their huffing and puffing, just can’t get blow the house down. Having drawn five of their last six in the league, three points for the hosts can be backed at a lofty 16/5, while the more familiar Reading outcome – a sharing of the spoils – is available at 5/2.

They stared down the straw abode of Norwich at 3pm last Saturday with many expecting them to finally topple a Premier League outfit, yet the flat performance they put in warranted the 0-0 it got, at best, and the Canaries’ structure remained intact. The stalemate also suggested that perhaps Reading are lacking the killer credentials required to be a big, bad wolf in the top flight.

Everton present them with a 12th opportunity to prove that they have it in them to survive, but the 5/6 on offer for the away win indicates McDermott’s quest is set to continue.

The Merseyside club have lost just the solitary league game on the road this term, drawing their last three, but with trips to Man City, Stoke and West Ham on the horizon they’re surely marking this as a chance to pick up three points to aid their Champions League qualification bid.

With Marouane Fellaini again proving his value to the Toffees in their 2-1 win over Sunderland last time out, the Reading back four will need to be ready for an almighty tussle here.

His aerial prowess not only threatens the opposition’s goal, it also creates opportunities for team mates.

The Belgian international has notched six goals already this term – as many as his last three seasons combined – and seems to be revelling in the more advanced role he is currently occupying in their formation. He is priced up at 6/1 to open the scoring here.

A goal has been scored in all but one of Everton’s away games to date in the final 15 minutes and 4/5 says it’ll happen again here. While the four meetings in the Premier League have yielded fewer than 2.5 goals as a staple – back this outcome again at a handsome 6/5.

All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date