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Royals 7-1 for top-half finish back in top flight

By Daniel Prescott 5:31PM 18 APR 2012

READING are 6-5 with Ladbrokes to survive their first season back in the Premier League after booking their place back in the big time on Tuesday night with their 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest and third-placed West Ham's 1-1 draw at Bristol City.

Brian McDermott's Berkshire boys, evens for immediate relegation with bet365, were 100-1 for the Championship title in December but are now 1-6 with two games left and a three-point advantage over Southampton after a run of 22 wins in 26 that includes a recent triumph at St Mary's.

And it seems that bet365 are in no mind to write-off the Royals enjoying a top-half top flight return after four years. They go 7-1. Ladbrokes offer 300-1 about a top-four finish.

McDermott is 8-13 with bet365 to remain at the Madejski Stadium for the whole of next season.

Southampton are 1-50 to join Reading in the Premier League after a comfortable 3-1 success at Peterborough gave them a five-point gap over the Hammers.

West Ham are now 7-4 with fellow likely play-off contenders Birmingham at 11-4, Blackpool at 7-2 and Cardiff at 4-1.

Boro are 25-1 with Coral to break into the top six and then win at Wembley.