Barnsley v Reading predictions: Royals back on track in playoff push

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Barnsley v Reading in the Championship on Friday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event & Football, 5.30pm Friday

Best bet

Reading draw no bet
2pts 5-4 general

Team news

Barnsley
Daryl Dike and Michal Helik have returned unscathed from international duty with USA and Poland but Herbie Kane (knee) has joined Liam Kitching and Ben Williams on the sidelines.

Reading
Michael Morrison and Andy Yiadom are available but John Swift and Felipe Araruna are ruled out.

Match preview

Reading are seventh in the Championship promotion betting but they have spent just one week outside the top six and can strengthen their playoff position by defeating Barnsley at Oakwell.

The markets have taken a negative view of the Royals' promotion prospects and there seems to be an assumption that the Berkshire side will finish outside the playoffs.

However, Reading had a decent spell going into the international break – taking 11 points from six games – and look in good shape on the injury front with key defender Michael Morrison returning to contention.

Offensively, Lucas Joao has been the key man – scoring 18 of 52 league goals – but Reading's attacking options increased in the weeks before the March internationals with George Puscas and Yakou Meite returning to fitness.

Meite's pace and power has given them a new dimension and he approaches the Barnsley game with confidence having scored in each of his last three appearances.

With Meite and Joao stretching defences and Ovie Ejaria and Michael Olise offering plenty of creativity, Reading are ideally set up to cause teams problems on the counter-attack, and they look dangerous opposition for Barnsley, who are renowned for squeezing the pitch and taking a few chances at the back.

Barnsley's risky strategy has brought ewards but they were picked off by relegation-threatened Sheffield Wednesday last time out, losing 2-1 at Oakwell, and may struggle to keep their promotion push on track.

Valarien Ismael's clever use of the five-substitute rule has helped Barnsley to pursue their high-energy style but there were signs of fatigue against the Owls and another major setback could be on the cards.

Key stat

Reading have kept clean sheets in six of their last 11 away matches.

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