2020-21 Sky Bet Championship: Week Eight – Tuesday

Blackburn Rovers face a tough test as they welcome Sky Bet Championship leaders, Reading to Ewood Park. 

Victory coupled with results elsewhere swinging in their favour could see Blackburn climb as high as fourth, whereas Reading can extend their lead at the summit to a maximum of eight points with a win.

 

Team News

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Thomas Kaminski is a doubt for Blackburn after suffering a possible groin injury as he saved Ryan Giles’ shot during Saturday’s away win over Coventry.

Daniel Ayala is also doubtful due to a groin injury picked up in last Wednesday’s loss at Watford but Bradley Dack remains sidelined as he nears a return from a serious knee injury.

Reading have no fresh injury concerns to report after Saturday’s win over Rotherham as John Swift misses out with an ongoing hamstring injury.

Sam Baldock (calf), Felipe Araruna and Andy Yiadom (both knee) are also ruled out.

 

Stat Attack

• Blackburn are unbeaten in three of their last five meetings against Reading (W2, D1, L2).
• Reading have won just one of their last six trips to Ewood Park (W1, D2, L3).
• John Swift has scored three goals across each of his last three appearances for Reading against Blackburn.

 

Prediction

Blackburn have been quite inconsistent so far because when they’re at their attacking best with Adam Armstrong in particular, they are difficult to beat but when on an off day, they seem sluggish and vulnerable defeat as Watford and Nottingham Forest have both demonstrated in recent weeks.

Reading meanwhile just seem to be solid with six clean sheets in their seven league outings, even if they have had to dig deep for majority of those results but they looked very comfortable against Rotherham on Saturday in terms of soaking up the pressure and controlling the match.

I think that this could well be a tough encounter between two teams who are excellent on their best days but given Reading recent poor away record at Rovers, I am going for a shock first defeat which surely has to come soon because Reading seem too good to be true given that is broadly the same squad that was largely inconsistent last season.

Prediction: Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Reading

Result: Blackburn Rovers 2-4 Reading