Paul Ince’s Reading FC side are back in action on Saturday afternoon when they host Millwall in the Championship at the Select Car Leasing Stadium (kick-off 3PM).
The Royals will be looking to get back to winning ways after the 4-1 defeat at Bloomfield Road.
The gap between Reading and the relegation zone now sits at six points thanks to the recent victories against Preston and Birmingham as well as Derby County’s rut. Barnsley however, have now won three of their last four league fixtures presenting them as the nearest challengers.
Millwall are steadily mid-table in 11th place, five points adrift of the Championship playoff places but on an excellent run of form.
Team News
Reading had regained some health in recent weeks but were once again rocked by injuries for the trip to the Lancashire Coast on Saturday. A makeshift defence saw midfielder Andy Rinomhota play at right-back with Andy Yiadom at left-back due to injuries to Baba Rahman, Scott Dann, and Tom Holmes.
The good news for Ince and Reading supporters is that Dann and Holmes are both nearing returns with Holmes potentially in contention to start Saturday’s clash with the Lions.
Meanwhile, Josh Laurent will be out for a few more weeks but Ovie Ejaria returned to the squad at Blackpool so he should be good to go while Yakou Meite played 90 minutes with the U23s on Monday night as he continues to work his way to full fitness.
Alen Halilovic also returned to the 18-man squad for the defeat to Blackpool after a hamstring injury.
But goalkeeper Karl Hein will be out for the foreseeable future after damaging the ligaments in his thumb after slipping at home. The Estonian’s absence will mean another opportunity for academy graduate Luke Southwood who endured a tough day at Blackpool.
Striker Benik Afobe could be set for his Millwall comeback after missing the past three games while Dan Ballard came off the bench for the Lions in their most recent game against Sheffield United after a spell out.
Tom Bradshaw, Ryan Leonard, Sheyi Ojo will all likely miss the match at the SCL as they continue to recover from long-term injuries.
For Guide
Despite the heavy defeat at Blackpool, Reading’s recent form looks far happier than it has in the past few months. A draw at Peterborough before victories against Preston and Birmingham has made the mood around Berkshire much more positive.
That being said, they desperately need to continue finding positive momentum as they fight to stave off relegation.
Last Five: LWWDL
Millwall have been one of the division’s form sides over the last month or so, winning four games on the spin and they’ve lost just one of their last seven games.
In those past four victories, they’ve conceded just two goals while scoring seven themselves.
Last Five: WWWWL
Opposition Danger Man: Jed Wallace
Scorer of six goals and supplier of eight assists this season, much of Millwall’s attacking impetus runs through Wallace.
The attacking midfielder missed five games through January but returned to the squad in early February and has been in great form since. He has two assists and one goal in his last three games and it’s no coincidence those have ended in Millwall victories.
Predicted Reading XI:
Southwood, Yiadom, Morrison, Holmes, McIntyre, Rinomhota, Drinkwater, Ince, Swift, Hoilett, Joao
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