Football Bet of the Day: Listing Latics to end up in a right Royal mess

Steve Clarke is making a big impact at Reading

After a disappointing start to the week, Kevin Hatchard's seeking redemption in Reading.

Reading v Wigan
Tuesday February 17, 20:00

Our Madeira cake tasted rotten last night, as Nacional missed a host of first-half chances against Estoril to help stymie our Over 2.5 Goals wager. To rub salt into our wounds, Nacional scored a late winner in a 1-0 victory. Bully for them.

We're returning to base camp to gather our thoughts and enjoy the fine English weather (it took ten minutes to defrost the car this morning), and while we're at it we'll take in a Championship match between Reading and Wigan Athletic.

The Royals have started to hit their stride since former West Brom boss Steve Clarke took charge, and Saturday's 2-1 FA Cup win at Derby County was arguably the zenith of his short reign. You may think the collection of 12 points from nine league games under Clarke isn't too impressive, and on the face of it you'd be right, but there's no doubt the Scottish coach has boosted confidence and raised performance levels.

Reading are certainly in fine form right now, having won three of their last four games in all competitions, and Clarke was adamant that the recent 2-0 home defeat to Leeds United was just a blip.

While Leeds were in the middle of a purple patch of form when they won at the Madejski Stadium, tonight's opponents Wigan certainly aren't. The Latics have won just one of their last 17 matches in all competitions, and they are a demoralising nine points adrift of safety. Their FA Cup final win against Manchester City in 2013 must seem so long ago to Wigan fans that their Wembley memories may as well be sepia-tinted. 

Controversy magnets Malky Mackay and Dave Whelan haven't exactly proved to be a dream team. Since chairman Whelan gave the former Cardiff boss a route back into management, Wigan have collected just six points from 13 games, and the decision to sack Uwe Rosler in November is looking distinctly ill-advised.

Wigan are particularly awful on the road, and have lost seven of their last nine away matches. They've only scored more than once in three of their 15 away games this term, and have kept just three clean sheets in that sequence. Last Wednesday's 3-0 reverse at Nottingham Forest was truly abject.

Reading could give a full debut to 32-year-old striker Yakubu (not a typo, he is really is 32), who bagged the winner at Derby at the weekend. Midfielder Jem Karacan and defender Anton Ferdinand are both out, while Wigan could be missing centre-back Leon Barnett.

Reading aren't quite in top gear yet under Clarke, but they're getting there, and I'd expect them to beat a Wigan side that looks bereft of confidence and fight. I was pleasantly surprised to see Reading trading at odds-against, and it's a price I'm happy to recommend.

Recommended Bet

Back Reading to win at 2.0811/10

2015 P/L (1 pt per bet)

Points Staked: 22

Points Returned: 17.24

P/L: -4.76 points