Lincoln City v Reading: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Lincoln City and Reading have built solid foundations to launch bids for the League One play-offs in the new year and they will hope to go into Christmas having claimed three points at Sincil Bank on Saturday.

The Imps are looking for their first victory in seven games, while the Royals are adjusting to life under new manager Noel Hunt and will want to bounce back from last week’s 3-0 home defeat to Blackpool.

Lincoln City v Reading betting tips and predictions

Over 2.5 goals - 17/20

The race for the play-off places in League One looks set to be of its customary competitive nature in the new year and both Lincoln and Reading have put themselves in a strong position to push on in the second half of the season.

They have both had their recent wobbles, with the ninth-placed Imps having won two of their last 11 matches and Michael Skubala’s team have not tasted victory in their last seven league outings.

The Royals, meanwhile, have had to cope with a change of manager following Ruben Selles' departure to Championship Hull City and new gaffer Hunt has to pick his side up after their 3-0 loss at home to Blackpool last week.

The visitors will take something from the fact they have not lost in their last four away matches, which should give them a degree of confidence to go on the front foot despite the hangover from that defeat to the Seasiders.

Lincoln were involved in a goalless draw against Charlton Athletic in their last home game, but that game was played in the grips of Storm Darragh, and seven of their previous eight games on their own patch featured more than two goals.

Over 2.5 goals was also a winning bet in five of Reading’s last seven league games, so there looks a decent chance that Saturday’s meeting can follow the same pattern.

Ben House to score at any time - 15/8

Ben House scored his fifth goal of the season in the Imps’ 2-2 draw against Huddersfield Town last time out and there looks a decent chance he can add to that tally against the Royals.

House has had a shot on target in six of his last seven league outings and he can threaten a visitors' defence that was flimsy last time out.

There should also be plenty of motivation for the striker who started his professional career at Reading but was unable to force his way into the first team before dropping down to non-league Eastleigh.

He would love to prove a point against his former employers and should take the opportunity to shine.

Lincoln City -2 on corner handicap - 11/10

Lincoln should be able to come out on top of the game’s corner count by a distance, as no League One team has conceded a higher average of flag-kicks than Reading’s 6.84 in their 19 matches.

The Royals have posted just 4.37 per game at the other end, which is the sixth lowest in the third tier, while the Imps have earned an average of 6.33 per game.

It looks worth chancing that the home side can come out on top of the corner handicap, which will happen if Skubala’s have three more than their opponents.

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Lincoln City v Reading odds

Lincoln City - 3/4
Draw - 27/10
Reading - 10/3

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.