Cardiff v Reading Tips

Cardiff host Reading on Friday evening at Cardiff City Stadium after the two sides met less than a week earlier in the FA Cup. Read the Cardiff v Reading match preview and predictions below.

Cardiff and Reading fought out a 1-1 draw on Saturday afternoon in the FA Cup, forcing a replay to be scheduled for Tuesday evening. The replay means that these two sides will play each other no less than three times in 10 days with their league match taking place this Friday evening.

The replay won’t be on either of these sides minds on Friday as both need points as they battle for a playoff spot with the hope of being a Premier League club next season.

Cardiff come into this game in slightly better form than the visitors having claimed all three points at home against top of the table West Brom on Tuesday evening. That win makes it six games unbeaten for Neil Harris’ side who are now just 5 points adrift of sixth-placed Bristol City.

After four wins on the trot, Readings form has deteriorated and they have now picked up just one win in their last seven matches. However, their recent losses to Millwall and Bristol City were not humiliating and a point away to third-placed Nottingham Forest is respectable.

Cardiff v Reading Past Meetings

• Played: 34
• Cardiff Wins: 11
• Reading Wins: 10
• Draws: 13

Cardiff Last 10 Games Stats

• Wins: 3
• Draws: 6
• Losses: 1
• Average goals per match: 1.4
• Average goals conceded per match: 1.6
• Number of clean sheets: 2
• Over 2.5 goals in match: 5
• Under 2.5 goals in match: 5

Reading Last 10 Games Stats

• Wins: 4
• Draws: 4
• Losses: 2
• Average goals per match: 1.2
• Average goals conceded per match: 0.9
• Number of clean sheets: 3
• Over 2.5 goals in match: 2
• Under 2.5 goals in match: 8

Cardiff Top Scorers

• Lee Tomlin: 6 Goals
• John Ralls: 5 Goals
• Danny Ward: 5 Goals

Reading Top Scorers

• George Puscas: 6 Goals
• Lucas Joao: 5 Goals
• John Swift: 5 Goals

Cardiff v Reading Prediction

Cardiff’s 2-1 win against West Brom on Tuesday will surely give them a lift going into this match and given they have the home advantage on Friday, we’re backing them to sneak the win. It should prove to be another close affair and with Over 2.5 goals only being scored in 2 of Reading’s last 10 matches, we’re going for a 1-0 home win.