Reading, who are currently in eighteenth place, will look to get closer to Championship survival when they host Cardiff City on Saturday with kickoff at 5 pm.
The Royals are currently eight points clear of the relegation zone, having played one game more than 22nd-place Barnsley. The Bluebirds sit 17th.
Reading is getting closer to securing their Championship status for another season. In a pivotal match on Tuesday night, they claimed a 2–1 win over Stoke City at the Madejski Stadium.
The Royals have now gone unbeaten matches, and they are unbeaten in their last four home games. They have won three of those four matches at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
Reading has the worst home record in the division (37 conceded), but their attack has been the most prolific in the bottom half of the table. They won 1-0 at Swansea on October 1. Junior Hoilett, who scored on his debut against Norwich City last weekend, scored on his debut.
Cardiff City has not won a match in their last 12 meetings with Reading in all competitions, and they have not won at the Selhurst Park stadium since November 2011. The Bluebirds traveled to Berkshire off the back of a humiliating 4-0 loss to Swansea City last weekend in the South Wales derby.
Reading vs. Cardiff City Head to Head
Both sides have 27 games against each other, with hosts taking eight wins while visitors with six wins. Here is a look at their previous encounters:
Home
- Reading 2-1 Stoke City
- Barnsley 1-1 Reading
- Reading 1-0 Blackburn
- Bournemouth 1-1 Reading
- Nottingham Forest 4-0 Reading
Away
- Cardiff City 0-4 Swansea
- Cardiff 2-1 Stoke City
- Preston North End 0-0 Cardiff
- QPR 1-2 Cardiff City
- Cardiff City 1-0 Derby County
Reading Team News
On Tuesday evening, winger Tom Ince should return to the starting lineup after being ineligible to face parent club Stoke. Since returning from a hamstring injury, left-back Baba Rahman will be pushing to start after making the bench in his first two games.
Cardiff City Team News
Steve Morison has options for his Cardiff starting lineup after their derby defeat, with Rubin Colwill and Isaac Davies among those pushing for a start. After over two months out with a calf injury, Curtis Nelson is also back in the matchday squad. Hence, they could also be brought in.
Prediction and Odds
Cardiff has little to play for, and they will be shaken by their recent defeat to city rivals Swansea.
- Reading Win
- Goals Under 2.5
- No Score: Cardiff City
