Reading FC's Championship credentials compared with Sunderland, Wigan and others for 2022/23

Reading are more likely to be relegated than reach the play-offs in the Championship this season.

That's according to our Reach supercomputer, which has crunched the numbers and run the algorithms for the season ahead based on a number of predictions over the 46 games and the outcomes produced.

With the Championship campaign set to kick-off on July 29, teams are finalising their pre-season summer schedules as they gear up for a long nine months. Reading continued their preparations with 1-1 draw against Premier League opposition in West Ham at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Saturday.

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After coming from behind to avoid defeat against the Hammers, and having made six summer signings to date, Paul Ince's side have had a somewhat successful off-season, with more arrivals hopefully on the way. But it seems they will need more to avoid another disappointing season.

Last season saw Ince come in at the back end of the season and save the club from relegation, with Royals finishing four points above 22nd-placed Peterborough United, thanks to a draw and a win in their final two games of the season.

Our supercomputer has given them a 39% chance of being relegated to League One next May, although newly-promoted Sunderland are the favourites to go down at 69%. The other sides tipped to face the drop are Bristol City at 53%, Birmingham at 48% and Wigan at 19%.

Reading have a 1% chance of finishing between third and sixth and reaching the play-offs. So while not impossible, the Royals have an uphill battle to finish in a position that gives them a shot at earning promotion to the Premier League. However, they do have a 0% chance of either winning the Championship or finishing second and gaining automatic promotion.

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