Reading vs Luton Prediction: Royals can return to winning ways

Reading have suffered back-to-back League 1 losses and will be looking for a response in their home fixture with promotion-chasing Luton Town at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Thursday (20:00 GMT, Sky Sports Football).

Below are my Reading vs Luton predictions, as well as the essential team news and match odds for the encounter in Berkshire.

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Team News

The hosts will be without midfielder Andy Rinomhota, who has joined up with the Zimbabwe squad for the Africa Cup of Nations, but Jack Marriott has recovered from a hamstring injury and is pushing for a start after making successive substitute appearances.

Football Odds

For the Hatters, Nahki Wells returned from injury as a substitute in the 2-2 draw with Port Vale, but Ali Al-Hamadi, Elijah Adebayo, Shandon Baptiste and Isaiah Jones remain on the injured list.

Zimbabwe international Marvelous Nakamba is on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Reading vs Luton Odds

Reading are 7/4 to pick up the win, while Luton can be backed at 8/5 to secure an away success. The draw is a 9/5 chance.

The markets anticipate a fairly tight game with under 2.5 goals priced up at 4/5 and overs on offer at 1/1.

Reading draw no bet @ 10/11

Reading are hovering just above the League 1 relegation zone, but they can ease their survival concerns by defeating Luton in a key game for both teams.

The third tier is extremely tight, and the Royals find themselves in a precarious position with only goal difference keeping them out of the bottom four.

However, Leam Richardson’s side go into their clash with Luton with the incentive of knowing that a win would take them up to 13th place.

Reading were beaten 2-0 at Bradford on Saturday, but they competed on fairly even terms until Antoni Sarcevic’s 56th-minute opener.

Today's Football Fixtures

They have lost only one of their last eight home league games and should fancy their chances against the Hatters, who are not living up to their pre-season billing.

Luton were a Premier League side just two seasons ago and, as a result, they have one of the best budgets in the division.

But they have won just eight of their 20 matches, and their scratchy form continued at the weekend with a 2-2 draw at home to basement boys Port Vale.

Jack Wilshere’s side have gone three games without a win on their travels, and they could be beaten in Berkshire.

Jack Marriott to score anytime @ 7/4

Reading’s penalty box prowess should improve now that Marriott is approaching peak fitness.

Marriott topped the League 1 goal charts as a Peterborough player in the 2017/18 season with 27 goals.

The 31-year-old has notched five goals in nine league appearances this term and can have his say against the Hatters.