Cambridge vs Reading betting tips, BuildABet, best bets and preview
Michael Beardmore has recorded more than 25pts profit in the opening weeks of the 2023-24 football season.
- Follow him here - @MickeyBeardmore
Football betting tips: League One
2pts Both Teams To Score ‘No’ at Evens (General)
1pt Gassan Ahadme to be shown a card at 5/1 (Sky Bet)
0.5pts Femi Azeez to be first player carded at 20/1 (Sky Bet)
After surviving by the skin of their teeth last term, Cambridge United can have reason to be pleased with the start of their Sky Bet League One campaign, having taken nine points from a possible 15.
U’s boss Mark Bonner has done an exceptional job at the Abbey Stadium, taking his hometown club up from League Two in his first full season in charge in 2020-21 and keeping them in the third tier since.
If they’re the overachievers here, visitors Reading are the opposite, the Royals’ struggles on and off the pitch over the past few years finally culminating in relegation to the third tier for the first time in two decades.
Ruben Selles' side, still far from out of the woods when it comes to financial troubles, have scored just four goals in their opening five league games and let veteran striker Andy Carroll depart for French side Amiens on transfer deadline day.
What are the best bets?
Both teams have not exactly been goal magnets this season – indeed eight of their 10 combined matches have featured a shutout for either themselves or the opposition.
That is in itself good reason to back BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE ‘NO’ which is surprisingly priced up at even money when the stats suggest it should be odds on.
I also like two bets in the card markets, beginning with Cambridge striker GASSAN AHADME. The Moroccan has been very lucky to receive just one caution in his past four games, considering he’s committed six fouls in each of those matches.
Any kind of continuation of that over-enthusiasm to impress at his new club will make the 5/1 on offer on Ipswich loanee Ahadme TO BE SHOWN A CARD a steal of a price.
I want to stay with the referee’s notebook when it comes to Reading midfielder FEMI AZEEZ.
The 22-year-old has been cautioned twice already this season, both early doors in games, yet is 20/1 TO BE THE FIRST PLAYER CARDED here which has to be worth a few coppers.
BuildABet @ 24/1
- Gassan Ahadme to be shown a card
- Cambridge 5+ corners
- Reading 6+ corners
CLICK HERE to back with Sky Bet
While goals have been scarce for Reading, corners have not - the Royals have racked up six or more such set-pieces in four of their five League One matches so far this term.
Cambridge have been similarly on the front foot when it comes to corners, registering six or more in their past four matches, including two in front of their home fans.
Score prediction: Cambridge 1-0 Reading (Sky Bet odds: 13/2)
Match facts
- This will be the first competitive meeting between Cambridge United and Reading since the U’s won a League Cup tie 3-1 in September 2002.
- Cambridge United haven’t recorded a draw in any of their last 11 League One matches (W6 L5) and have only drawn two of their last 23 matches in the competition (W9 L12).
- Reading are without a win on the road in their last 14 EFL matches (D2 L12), losing their last five away from home and 11 of their last 12. Their last away league victory was a 2-1 win against Hull City in the Championship in November 2022.
Odds correct at 2200 BST (01/09/23)
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