Boss Stam has the Royals moving in the right direction

Championship
Sky Sports 1, 7.45pm

The ante-post markets expected Reading and Ipswich to be mid-table in the Sky Bet Championship and five games into the season little has changed.

The Royals’ appointment of Jaap Stam as manager didn’t inspire punters – they kicked off the campaign at 12-1 for promotion and 9-1 for relegation – while Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich could have been backed at 10-1 to go up or to go down.

The Tractor Boys have taken eight points from five matches, a respectable haul that includes draws with ambitious Wolves and promotion challengers Norwich.