Luton Town welcome Reading to Kenilworth Road in a crunch Sky Bet Championship clash in the race for promotion.
Victory would see Nathan Jones’ Hatters climb to sixth if Swansea lose elsewhere, whilst Reading can go seventh with a win if Preston fail to beat Swansea elesewhere.
Team News
Cameron Jerome could return to the starting line-up as Nathan Jones prepares to rotate his Luton squad, following Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Sunderland.
Luke Berry and Dan Potts (both illness) could return but Henri Lansbury (knock) is ruled out.
Reece Burke (hamstring) and James Shea (knee) both remain ruled out.
Reading could be without Tom McIntyre after he suffered a head injury in their defeat at Burnley.
Sam Hutchinson (calf) won’t be risked until match-fit but Mamadou Loum is suspended after he picked up his fifth booking of the season at Turf Moor on Saturday.
Naby Sarr (calf), Femi Azeez, Scott Dann, Dejan Tetek (all hamstring) and Liam Moore (knee) remain absent.
Stat Attack
- Luton have won two of their last six league meetings against Reading (W2, D1, L3).
- Reading have won just one of their last four second-tier visits to Luton (W1, D1, L2).
- Nathan Jones’ Hatters have kept clean sheets in each of their last three home matches against Reading in all competitions (W2, D1).
- Carlton Morris has picked up four yellow bookings in 17 appearances for Luton this season, more than any other Luton player.
- Three of Tom Ince’s four league goals for Reading this season have been scored away from home.
Prediction
Despite having struggled recently with the effects of a illness outbreak which affected their last two matches, Luton still managed to deliver a dominant attacking display against Sunderland yet wasted chances which ultimately bit them back with an eventual draw.
Nathan Jones’ Hatters therefore need to take the positives from that game now and come out with another decent performance, only with neater finishing and better defending if they’re to get their promotion challenge back on track.
Reading meanwhile were just outclassed at Burnley but did incredibly well to take the fight to Vincent Kompany’s Clarets for the opening hour, in which they took the lead but defensive mistakes proved costly in the end despite a valiant effort which will motivate them to do even better here.
Kenilworth Road though have been a tricky place for the Royals to visit in recent trips but I do anticipate a closely fought contest here between two strong teams, so a draw might well be a fair outcome.
Prediction: Luton 1-1 Reading
Result: Luton 0-0 Reading