There are at least five Premiership sides guaranteed to bite the dust this weekend, and Birmingham could well be one of them. They did rout Portsmouth last weekend, but Pompey missed stacks of chances, and Reading are unlikely to be as generous in front of goal. Only three places separate the Championship leaders from Birmingham, and the Royals have only been beaten by Arsenal in the Carling Cup since the opening day of the season. They could be a good bet in our ‘Furthest Progressing Championship Team’ market at 6/1, as both Stoke (4/1) and Derby (6/1) could come unstuck against lower league rivals.


Stoke took two games and a penalty shoot-out to see off non-league Tamworth, then followed that with a dismal 3-0 home defeat against Hull.
What’s more, their top scorer is away on African Cup duty, and they weakened themselves further this week by selling defender John Hall.

Their opponents Walsall have already negotiated a tricky away tie in the last round and must be in with a shout here. Championship strugglers Derby are coming off a 6-1 spanking by Coventry, and must travel to League 1 leaders Colchester, who have won eight of their last nine.


Reading to beat Birmingham @ 13/10
Reading to be Furthest Progressing Championship Team @ 6/1 Walsall to beat Stoke @ 7/2 Colchester to beat Derby @ 6/5


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