Reading will get the chance to put pressure on their promotion rivals when they travel to Deepdale to take on Preston North End on Sunday afternoon.
While the likes of Norwich, Swansea, Brentford and Bournemouth all fight it out in their respective FA Cup ties, Reading will play one of their games in hand this weekend.
The Royals have been the surprise package in the second tier this season, and they remain in the hunt for automatic promotion.
Veljko Paunovic has got his side firing in the Championship, and they continue to defy their critics. They are fifth in the table ahead of Sunday’s trip to Lancashire, but they will not have it all their own way with Alex Neil’s men in tenth.
Preston’s form at Deepdale is impressive, with the Lilywhites winning three of their last four on home soil.
Neil’s side have proven they are tough to break down on their own patch but Reading should still come out on top after just one defeat in six away from the Madejski Stadium.
Reading may need to be patient, and it is worth backing draw/Reading in the half-time/full-time market at odds of 23/4.
Boro Hoping to Recover From Surprise Slip-Up
Neil Warnock’s Middlesbrough return to the Riverside Stadium just a week after a surprise defeat to Birmingham City.
That was their first loss in four at home, and they will fancy their chances of getting back to winning ways this Sunday.
Tony Mowbray’s Blackburn Rovers won their first away game in four earlier this month against Birmingham, but they have not won consecutive away games in the Championship since 2019.
Blackburn have only conceded four in their previous four on the road, and Sunday’s battle could be a close one.
Boro should still pick up the three points but a home win and under 2.5 goals appeals at 19/5.
Rooney’s Derby Can Build on Recent Success
Wayne Rooney’s mind is now entirely focused on coaching after retiring this month, and he takes Derby to London for Saturday’s meeting with Queens Park Rangers.
Even though both teams are looking over their shoulder at the drop zone, they come into the match in decent form.
The R’s have won their last two to move seven clear of 22nd-placed Rotherham United, while Derby beat high-flying Bournemouth in midweek.
Derby have lost two of their last five on the road, but that isn’t the stat that jumps out this week. Mark Warburton’s QPR have no win in their last five at home in all competitions and Derby should be able to leave London with the win at odds of 37/20.
*All odds correct at time of writing
