Reading may prove best bet of final Premier League games

Considering West Ham are unbeaten at home this season against opposition to start the final weekend of the Premier League season outside of the top seven, it is difficult to envisage them falling to defeat at Upton Park against Reading.

Throw in that Reading have also taken just a solitary point, at Swansea, on their away days against clubs currently in the top 12 and their chances of a victory look further diminished.

However, odd results have been the scourge of punters for decades and already this season QPR have won at Stamford Bridge and both Wigan and Fulham were surprise victors at Tottenham, which have surely blown a few accumulators.

And it is Reading that may well prove the latest accumulator buster, with the price of 19/5 available for them to beat West Ham well worthy of consideration.

Reading have triumphed in the last three meetings between the pair, including a 1-0 success at the Madejski earlier this season.

Meanwhile, of their 12 total meetings, which have all been since 2001, Reading have won seven of these encounters, with West Ham taking maximum points only three times.

The Royals are also unbeaten on their last three visits to Upton Park.

It should additionally be remembered that Reading emerged victorious on their most recent visit to London when the pressure of avoiding relegation had already passed, leaving Fulham with a 4-2 success.

West Ham are 7/10 to beat Reading, which would look good value for those prepared to overlook any personal head-to-head records between the pair and base their decision on statistics from this season.

A victory would also confirm a top-half Premier League finish for West Ham, which they could also secure with a draw, assuming that Stoke don’t beat Southampton by two goals or more.

Sam Allardyce’s men are 2/9 to finish in the top 10, with Stoke 15/2 in this market.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.