3 huge Championship clashes to keep an eye on this evening

Reading vs Newcastle United

Championship leaders Newcastle United face a third top six side in the space of seven days when they visit fifth place Reading this evening.

Rafa Benitez’s side got past second place Brighton 2-1 at the AMEX Stadium this time last week, before producing another clinical display to see off third place Huddersfield 3-1 on Saturday.

It all means that the Magpies have opened up a five-point lead at the top of the division, and with an 11-point gap to the Terriers in third, they look set to make an immediate return to the Premier League.

However, they face a Reading side this evening that have lost just twice at home all season, and got back to winning ways on Saturday courtesy of a 2-1 success over struggling Wolves.

Jaap Stam’s men have picked up five wins and a draw at the Madejski Stadium over sides in the top nine of the Championship this term, and with Brighton the only team to have picked up more points at home this season than the Royals, Newcastle will know that they’ll need to be at their best tonight.

Nonetheless, the Magpies have picked up 41 points on their travels this term, 12 more than the next best Brighton, and they’ll be confident of picking up another three points tonight.