Shane

Reading take on Cardiff on Friday and they are the slight 5/4 favourites to secure a first leg victory against Cardiff who are 9/4 with the draw 11/5. Cardiff and Reading are both priced at 5/6 to qualify for the Wembley final. Two players who are certain to feature heavily in the game are Craig Bellamy and Ian Harte. Harte, Reading’s regular penalty taker, is 8/1 to score from the spot during the game, while Bellamy is 11/10 to still be at Cardiff on the first game of next season. Shane Long is 5/1 favourite to open the scoring during the game, with Noel Hunt 11/2. Craig Bellamy, Michael Chopra, Jay Bothroyd and Simon Church are all 7/1.

Hills are also offering 1/2 that the side which wins the Playoff final ends up being relegated from the Premier League next season. The Playoff winning side are also 25/1 to get the lowest ever points total.

“Sides that win the Championship playoffs generally spend the following season flirting with relegation and the odds suggest that whoever goes up will go straight back down,” said Hill’s spokesman Joe Crilly.

William Hill Championship Playoffs Odds:

Reading / Cardiff:

90 Minutes: 5/4 Reading; 9/4 Cardiff; 11/5 Draw

To Qualify: 5/6 Cardiff; 5/6 Reading

First Goal Scorer: 5/1 Shane Long; 11/2 Noel Hunt; 7/1 Craig Bellamy; 7/1 Simon Church; 7/1 Jay Bothroyd; 7/1 Michael Chopra; 15/2 BAR

8/1 Ian Harte to score a penalty during the game

Championship Playoff Winner 2011/12 Season:
1/2 Relegated
7/1 Top Half
2/1 Bottom Half But Not Relegated
25/1 Lowest Ever Premier League Points Total (less than 11pts)

Bellamy at Cardiff on first day of next season: 11/10 Yes; 4/6 No

Further information…Joe Crilly…0208 918 3746 / 07850 518 164.