Reading vs Man City tips (tonight)

Despite losing two of their first three Premiership games, newly promoted Reading have acquitted themselves extremely well so far in their first foray into the top level since it was re-branded the Premiership as opposed to the Division 1. They beat Middlesbrough in a thriller on the opening day of the season in front of an elated crowd at the Madejski Stadium, and they've lost little caste in defeat in going down narrowly to the in-form Aston Villa and Wigan in two subsequent away matches. Back in their Berkshire lair on Monday evening, I reckon that Kevin Dillon's charges will prove too strong for the visiting Man City, a side which managed to win just four of their 19 away fixtures in the Premiership last term. The Citizens find goals hard to come by on their travels - bar Everton, only the three relegated clubs failed to hit the back of the net more than City away from home in the 2005/06 campaign. The departure of proven goalscorer Andy Cole and of attacking-minded midfielder Antoine Sibierski will do little to instil confidence within City fans that their fortunes are about to take an upturn, especially as the only forward brought into a squad short on firepower was Italian Bernado Corradi, who has no previous experience of Premiership football and may well take time acclimatise into his new surroundings. In their three games played so far, the Blues have failed to score once from open play - their only goal coming by way of a Joey Barton penalty against Arsenal - which is decidedly disconcerting. Although they managed to beat the Gunners that day, courtesy of the aforementioned penalty, on any other day the north London side would have won that game by four or five goals to one. Lady Luck just wasn't shining on Wenger's men, and they saw chance after chance go begging. City do boast a midfield capable of causing havoc amongst rivals' defence. But in matches like this one where they will have to drop deep into their own half to do plenty of defending against a side which plays with an offensive strategy, their resources will be stretched and whoever starts up front - Corradi, Dickov and Vassell may all be in the mix - will have to rediscover their shooting boots fast. On current form, that trio would definitely be odds against to deliver an end product. Albeit in the Football League Championship, The Royals were outstanding at home last season, losing just one of their 23 matches in their backyard and scoring a colossal 58 times - an average of over 2.5 goals per game. In fact, Reading haven't been beaten at the Madejski Stadium since the opening day of last season, an unbeaten run which now stands at 31 matches. Quite impressive. Dave Kitson and Kevin Doyle amassed a goal haul of 36 between them in the league during their scintillating 2005/06 campaign and that duo will prove a thorn in the side of City's defence this evening. However, the value bet lies in backing Reading in the to win to nil market at a generous looking 14/5 with Paddy Power. The Royal conceded just 14 times in their 23 games on home soil last season - an average of little over 0.6 per fixture - and Stuart Pearce's men look set to struggle to hit the target again tonight. Verdict - 1.25pts on Reading in the to win to nil betting market @ 14/5 (Paddy Power)