Bristol Rovers vs Reading Prediction: Royals to secure an important victory

There is a huge match in League 1 on Saturday (12:30, Sky Sports+) that has permutations at both the top and bottom ends of the table as Bristol Rovers welcome Reading to the Memorial Stadium. The hosts are fighting for their lives as they sit in the relegation zone on goal difference. They are level with Burton Albion in 20th on 43 points, but the Brewers do boast a game in hand.

The Royals make the trip to the South West in pursuit of a place in the play-offs. The visitors are seventh on 72 points and goal difference is the only thing keeping them behind Leyton Orient in sixth. Read on for my Bristol Rovers vs Reading predictions, accompanied by the latest team news and match odds.

Football Odds

Team News

Following a home defeat on Monday at the hands of Stevenage, Rovers boss Inigo Calderon may be tempted to freshen up his side for this crunch clash with Reading. Isaac Hutchinson and Scott Sinclair could be in contention to come into the attack as a result.

The midfield and defence could remain intact following the Pirates' hard-fought draw at Wrexham on Good Friday, with the Red Dragons having one of the strongest home records in the division.

Gatlin O'Donkor is expected to lead the line again for the hosts, while Romaine Sawyers will look to pull the strings in the middle of the park.

Fellow forward Chris Martin is out injured and will not feature in the final two gameweeks of the campaign. Calderon will be sweating over the fitness of top scorer Ruel Sotiriou, who was withdrawn through injury on Monday after just half-an-hour.

Reading boss Noel Hunt might consider naming the same XI that thrashed Mansfield Town 5-1 last time out, barring any late fitness concerns.

Jayden Wareham ended a 10-game goal drought with a brace in Nottinghamshire and the forward will head to Bristol with his confidence restored.

Lewis Wing has been exceptional for the Royals this term and he scored a belting effort on Monday to notch his seventh goal in the league. He's likely to line up in the engine room once again, alongside Charlie Savage and Harvey Knibbs.

Kelvin Abrefa is unavailable because of a hamstring injury he picked up against Lincoln City on Good Friday.

Bristol Rovers vs Reading Odds

Bristol Rovers have lost seven of their last eight matches but they are 2/1 to secure a huge victory on Saturday.

They did earn a draw against Wrexham recently, while Reading experienced a stalemate at Northampton in a recent away trip. The draw is marketed at 5/2.

The Royals are 13/10 (which has an implied probability of 43.5%) to collect the three points, which they have accomplished in two of their past three away fixtures.

Both teams to score has been a successful bet in four of Bristol Rovers' previous five home games in the third tier. BTTS is available at 4/6 on Saturday.

Reading to win @ 13/10

Considering all the off-field issues that have plagued them this season, it is remarkable that we are talking about Reading as credible play-off contenders with two games left to play.

What Hunt and his predecessor Ruben Selles have accomplished this year in the face of adversity is nothing short of incredible, and the former was harshly overlooked for the League 1 Manager of the Season Award in my opinion.

Goal difference is the only thing holding the Royals outside the play-offs right now, and it could be crucial heading into the final weekend. They are nine goals worse off than Leyton Orient but Reading scored five in their last outing, and they are up against a side who are struggling to maintain their third tier status.

The Pirates have lost seven of their last eight and despite drawing at Wrexham, they missed a huge opportunity on home turf against Stevenage. Reading are a much stronger side than the Boro and it is hard to see Bristol Rovers defeating the Royals off the back of a commanding performance at Mansfield.

Reading and Leyton Orient both feature in the early kick-offs, with the O's facing promotion-chasers Wycombe Wanderers at Brisbane Road. The Royals will be hoping for a favour from the Chairboys, but they will be focused on securing three important points in BS7.

Both teams to score @ 4/6

I am expecting Bristol Rovers to fall to a defeat here, but I don't think they will just roll over. They are fighting for their lives and they can cause the Royals some problems on home soil.

BTTS has been a winning selection in four of the Pirates' last five appearances at the Memorial Stadium, while there have been goals at both ends in two of Reading's previous three away trips in League 1.

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