Reading host Bradford in a big fixture in the race for the Sky Bet League One Play-Offs.
Victory would move seventh-placed Reading to within one point of the final play-off spot currently held by Huddersfield – should the Terriers lose at Wigan.
Bradford meanwhile can climb to third with a win if Bolton slip up elsewhere.
Team News
Reading have no fresh injury concerns to report following their 1-1 draw at Port Vale last weekend.
Haydon Roberts (hamstring) is unlikely to be available, but Ben Elliott (unspecified) and Daniel Kyerewaa (knock) are still ruled out.
Bradford could be without Kayden Jackson after he suffered a knee injury during their 1-0 midweek win at home to Rotherham.
Stephen Humphrys (ankle) and Will Swan (unspecified) are doubts for selection.
When is Kick-Off?
Reading host Bradford at Select Car Leasing Stadium on Saturday 28 February at 3pm GMT, untelevised live in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Reading have claimed seven points from their last five league meetings against Bradford (W2, D1, L2).
- Bradford are unbeaten in ten of their last 11 league visits to Reading (W5, D5, L1).
- Reading haven’t kept consecutive clean sheets at home against Bradford since March 1973 – March 1974 when they won 2-0 then drew 0-0 respectively.
- Reading have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last five matches (W2, D2, L1).
- Bradford have won just one of their last six away games (W1, L5).
Prediction
Having stuttered to 1-1 draws against Bolton and Port Vale in their last two matches, Reading now could do with a win if want to keep pace with Huddersfield in the battle for that last play-off spot but they need to sort out their injury-time defending after two late equalisers in their recent games.
Bradford meanwhile clinically dispatched Rotherham in a dominant display in which they faced no shots on target from their Yorkshire rivals, but this will be a tougher test given their poor away form lately so a good start would be ideal but Reading’s defence is there for the taking in injury time if need be.
On that note, I expect this to be a close scrap given what is at stake for both teams so a draw feels like a fair call.
Prediction: Reading 1-1 Bradford
Result: Reading 2-1 Bradford
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