Blackburn to win fourth game in a row at Reading
Blackburn Rovers visit the Madejski Stadium on Wednesday night with a nominal game in hand at the top of the early EFL Championship table. Jon Dahl Tomasson's charges have yet to drop a point, and look to be in the driving seat to extend that record against a home outfit that are leaky in defence. Read our preview here:
Lumley's not absolutely fabulous
The Royals were on the receiving end of a 4-0 thumping by expected relegation rivals Rotherham United at the weekend in an encounter that goalkeeper Joe Lumley will want to quickly move on from. The custodian was culpable for several of the Millers' strikes, and it remains to be seen whether manager Paul Ince will stick with the Middlesbrough loanee between the sticks with his confidence understandably low. Dean Bouzanis could take over the gloves. Elsewhere, there is a dearth of true creativity in the likely XI, and, with more than half a dozen injuries in a squad of limited depth, the hosts will need improved performances out of the likes of former Rovers wide man Junior Hoilett and new forward Shane Long in particular.
Play it again, Sammie
Meanwhile, Tomasson has had a fantastic start to his head coaching life in east Lancashire, which has seen a revival in the fortunes of cult hero Ben Brereton Díaz; the Chilean striker, despite notching over 20 last season, had a very noticeable slowdown to his haul after January. This term, he's sharing the burden more with Sam Gallagher and captain Lewis Travis in a defensive midfield pivot role. Irish schemer Sammie Szmodics was acquired in the summer from relegated outfit Peterborough United. The goalscoring creator has settled in well as the lynchpin in the attack-minded trio behind Gallagher, and Ryan Hedges, on the opposite flank to Brereton Díaz, already has three assists to his name.
Betting tip
Parimatch have odds of 2.17 for a Blackburn win at Reading which would see them open up a three-point lead at the summit of the second tier at minimum, depending on Cardiff City's fortunes.
