Reading saw their promotion hopes dented at the weekend by a 1-0 loss at basement boys Wigan and they will be looking for a positive response and a victory against Leyton Orient at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Wednesday.
After sorting out their longstanding off-field issues, Reading are focused on challenging for a return to the Championship.
But there is plenty of room for improvement for Leam Richardson’s outfit, who have won just four of ten third tier fixtures.
Reading are averaging 2.1 goals per game, but they were strangely subdued on their weekend trip to Wigan and paid a price when Scott Hogan’s 71st minute strike sealed the points for the home side.
Leyton Orient had a more positive Saturday experience as they eased to a 2-0 triumph at home to Blackpool.
Richie Wellens’s side have had a mixed set of results but they are three points better off than at the same stage of last season.
Reading v Leyton Orient Tips Summary
Best Bet - Leyton Orient or draw double chance @ 6/4
Alternative Bet - Alex Gilbert anytime assist @ 4/1
Bet Builder - Dane Scarlett anytime goalscorer, Andy Rinomhota to be booked & over 2 goals @ 20/1
Reading v Leyton Orient Prediction
Best Bet: Leyton Orient or draw double chance @ 6/4
Leyton Orient are unbeaten on their League One travels and can stay that way by taking a point or three against Reading in Berkshire.
Playing on the road suits the Londoners, who have moved away from a possession-based style to a counter-attacking strategy.
Orient have conceded just one goal in four third tier away matches and showed their resilience on a recent trip to Bradford by holding the Bantams to a goalless draw.
The unusual aspect of the Bradford game was Orient’s failure to get on the scoresheet.
They had netted eight times across their three previous League One away games and have the necessary firepower to cause Reading plenty of problems.
Orient have lots of offensive quality to choose from, with Aaron Connolly recently recovered from injury and Dane Scarlett getting more accustomed to the demands of the division.
Reading will have their hands full at the back and their ability to respond is reduced without eight-goal top scorer Jack Marriott, who is absent with an ankle injury.
The Royals have other exciting attackers, including Kyreece Lisbie, who netted twice in their 5-1 victory away to MK Dons.
But they have blanked in successive games since their demolition of the Dons and could be in for a difficult night against Orient, who look overpriced to avoid defeat.
Alternative Bet: Alex Gilbert anytime assist @ 4/1
Leyton Orient’s recent improvement has been heavily influenced by attacking midfielder Alex Gilbert, who made his first league start for the club in last month’s 1-0 success at home to Stevenage.
Gilbert has created 11 chances in just five league appearances and can come up with a key creative moment to ruin Reading’s evening.
Reading v Leyton Orient Bet Builder Tip
Dane Scarlett anytime goalscorer
Andy Rinomhota to be booked
Over 2 goals
Pays 20/1
Leyton Orient are delighted with their 14 point haul from the first ten games, because they have the potential to improve as the season progresses.
Attackers Connolly and Scarlett are big players for the level and both are still working their way towards full match sharpness.
Scarlett came off the bench to score a penalty in Saturday’s 2-0 triumph at home to Blackpool and should be rewarded with a midweek starting berth.
The 22-year-old is an excellent finisher and can help his club secure a positive outcome from an entertaining, high-scoring game.
Reading will need to be mindful of Orient counter-attacks and a lot of their destructive work could be done by Zimbabwean midfielder Andy Rinomhota, who has been carded in two of his last three matches.
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Key Match Stats
Reading have won just two of their last eight fixtures
Five or Reading’s last eight league games have featured at least three goals
Leyton Orient are unbeaten in their last five away matches
Orient have kept clean sheets in three of their last four fixtures
Orient have scored in nine of their last 11 league games
Orient have conceded fewer than two goals in each of their last six away gam
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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.
