Mansfield Town vs Reading Prediction

Now then, have you seen the prices for this League One clash? The bookies have got Mansfield as favorites at 2.15, but pull the other one, mate - they haven't won at home in donkey's years! Six games without a win at the One Call Stadium, drawing five of them including four goalless stalemates against Stockport, Rotherham, Exeter and Wycombe. They're blunter than a spoon in attack, averaging just 0.67 goals per game on their own patch.

Reading, on the other hand, are bang in form and chasing them playoff spots. The Royals are sitting pretty in 7th with 54 points and have been involved in some cracking games lately - that 3-2 thriller at Luton, the 2-1 win at Wigan, and a 2-0 job at Northampton. They're netting two goals a game on the road with a 60% win rate away from home. Sure, they leak a few at the back, but when you're scoring for fun, who cares?

The head-to-head makes grim reading for Stags fans too - Reading have never lost to Mansfield in three meetings, winning two and drawing the last one 1-1 back in October. Both teams have found the net in every single clash between these two.

So why are Mansfield favorites? Must be the home advantage tag, but the stats don't lie - they've won just 10% of their last ten games and only managed one victory in that spell, and that was the FA Cup upset at Burnley (2-1). Against league opposition at home, they're struggling.

At 3.10, Reading is massive value. The goal expectancies have them at 1.67 to Mansfield's 1.03, which tells you everything you need to know about who should be favorites here. The Royals are unbeaten in nine of their last ten, and with their playoff push in full swing, they should have too much quality for a Mansfield side that's forgotten how to win at home.

Key Points:

• Mansfield have won 0% of their last 6 home games (0 wins, 3 draws, 3 losses)

• Reading have won 60% of their last 5 away games, scoring exactly 2 goals per game on the road

• The Royals are unbeaten in 9 of their last 10 matches (5 wins, 4 draws, 1 loss)

• Mansfield have drawn 0-0 in 4 of their last 10 games, highlighting their lack of firepower

• Reading have never lost to Mansfield in 3 previous meetings (2 wins, 1 draw)

• Reading's last 10 games have seen Both Teams Score in 90% of matches

Summary: The bookies have got this one wrong. Mansfield can't buy a win at home, while Reading are flying. Back the away win at 3.10 - it's the value shout of the night.