Reading face a tough test of their promotion credentials as they welcome Bristol City to Madejski Stadium.
Reading can go third and above their visitors with a win, whereas Bristol City could temporarily go top with victory by two goals or more ahead of Saturday’s mid-afternoon action.
Team News
Tom McIntyre remains absent for Reading after self-isolating due to having been in possible contact with someone who tested positive for Coronavirus amongst Scotland Under 21s squad.
Andy Yiadom, Felipe Araruna (both knee) and John Swift (hamstring) are still sidelined.
Bristol City could be without Tomas Kalas after he withdrew from their midweek draw against Watford with a quad injury.
Alfie Mawson, Andreas Weimann, Joe Williams (all knee), Liam Walsh (quad), Steven Sessegnon and Nathan Baker (both hamstring) are still sidelined.
Stat Attack
- Reading have taken just four points from their last six matches against Bristol City (W1, D1, L4).
- Bristol City have won just two of their last six trips to Reading (W2, L6).
- Reading have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last six matches with five of their 16 conceded goals across those games coming in the first half.
Prediction
Reading just seem to be in freefall and to shift 16 goals in their last six matches alone is worrying even though they are still scoring goal themselves, especially coming into a fixture like this because Bristol City are still finding points by hook or crook despite having their own injury issues to deal with.
This could therefore well be a cagey affair between two teams looking to push for promotion but I can see the Robins just having the edge given their stronger individual players, who could become key in the closing stages the the longer this stays goalless.
Prediction: Reading 0-1 Bristol City
Result: Reading 3-1 Bristol City