Peterborough United welcome Reading to London Road in a rearranged relegation six-pointer in the Sky Bet Championship.
Victory would see Peterborough climb out of the relegation zone at Reading’s expense, whereas a win would see the Royals move five points clear of the Posh.
Team News
Ronnie Edwards could return for Peterborough after a minor hamstring injury forced him to miss Saturday’s loss to Preston.
Mark Beevers, Jack Taylor (both hamstring) and Dan Butler (ankle) are ruled out.
Reading will be without Junior Hoilett after he was red carded in Saturday’s loss to Coventry City.
Brandon Barker could make his Royals debut after signing as a free agent on Tuesday (15 February) but Scott Dan and Dejan Tetek (both hamstring) are doubts, with Alen Halilovic (hamstring) very unlikely to be risked unless he is declared match fit.
Ovie Ejaria (leg), Femi Azeez (ankle) and Felipe Araruna (knee) are ruled out.
Stat Attack
- Peterborough have won two of their last five league meetings against Reading (W2, L3).
- Reading have won just one of their last five visits to Peterborough in all competitions (W1, L4).
- Neither team are yet to fail to win away from home in five previous Championship meetings, with Peterborough winning their two home games against Reading in the Championship.
- Peterborough have kept disciplinary clean sheets in their last two home matches.
- No team have drawn fewer matches this season than Reading who have drawn four of their 30 league matches.
Prediction
If there is a blockbuster six-pointer this month in England’s second tier, this is that game because whatever happens here could be defining in the relegation scrap.
Peterborough will be eager for a reaction to Saturday’s narrow defeat against Preston because the Posh didn’t do too much wrong, except get outclassed in the finishing which ultimately proved the difference so expect them to come out fighting given what is at stake.
Reading meanwhile found themselves in a physical battle against Coventry but defensive focus was their downfall, despite playing much better than they had done for majority of this season so will have reason themselves to come out and try to get on the front foot.
I am on that note expecting a tough contest because Peterborough can’t afford to lose this match for the sake of their survival ambitions, whereas Reading will be eager to put breathing space to the relegation zone with a win so tactics will be key.
My gut instinct though says that Reading will finally get their first away win against Peterborough in this tier if they play like they did on Saturday, albeit with better defending.
Prediction: Peterborough 0-1 Reading
Result: Peterborough 0-0 Reading