Our prediction for this Championship match:
Burnley will look to build on back-to-back wins over Sunderland and Norwich City when they take on Reading in the Championship round 18. The Clarets are seen as the No. 1 favourites to secure automatic promotion, but they need to keep on making progress if they are to meet the goal. Jay Rodriguez should keep his place in the starting XI after scoring the winner against the Canaries, whilst all Darko Churlinov, Scott Twine, and Ashley Westwood remain in the recovery room.
The Royals, on the other hand, desperately needed a win against Bristol City, and they managed to get one, with the team putting an end to their three-game losing run. Reading, though, have already suffered five defeats on the road this term, and we do not believe that they are capable of spoiling Burnley’s party at Turf Moor. Former Newcastle attacker Andy Carroll is pushing for a start, while all Sam Hutchinson, Naby Sarr, Liam Moore, Femi Azeez, and Scott Dann continue to miss out with injuries.
Highlighted Player (Bailey Peacock-Farrell):
Despite being born in Darlington, England on October 29, 1996, Bailey Peacock-Farrell represents Northern Ireland at senior level. The Northern Ireland international started his youth career at Middlesbrough, but in 2013 he joined Leeds United. The talented goalkeeper continued playing for Leeds United senior team and, no doubt, there is a bright future ahead of him.
Bailey Peacock-Farrell made his first-team debut for the Whites on April 5, 2016 in a home game against Queens Park Rangers. The two played out a 1-1 draw at Elland Road and it has to be noted that the goalkeeper conceded a penalty kick in the 87th minute of the match. The 192-cm tall shot-stopper has a contract with Leeds United which should expire on June, 2020.
As previously mentioned, the Leeds United goalkeeper represents Northern Ireland on the international stage, qualifying for the national team thanks to his grandfather Jim Farreell, who was born in Enniskillen.
Highlighted Team (Reading):
Reading FC is a professional football club that play in the Championship. The club was formed in 1871 and Madejski Stadium has been the home of Reading since 1998. The Royals used to play their home games at Elm Park in the past (1896 - 1998). Reading made it to the FA Cup semi-finals on two occasions (1927, 2015), but they have yet to win the prestigious trophy.
The likes of Robin Friday, Trevor Senior, Steve Death, Shaka Hislop, Phil Parkinson, Alf Messer, Jimmy Quinn, Michael Gilkes, Ronnie Blackman, Pavel Pogrebnyak and Martin Hicks are some of their more notable footballers. Aldershot Town were considered Reading’s fiercest rivals, but the Shots went out of business in 1992.
Seeing that Aldershot rejoined the league in 2008 it remains to be seen if the rivalry is going to be re-established in near future. Swindon Town and Oxford United are considered Reading’s big rivals as well.