Reading welcomes West Bromwich Albion to the Madjeski Stadium on Saturday afternoon, looking to bounce back from two matches without a victory in the Championship with kickoff at 5 pm.
Reading has gone two matches without a win for the first time this season, but that’s only a sign of how much progress Paul Ince has made at the club.
That said, there is no need to panic at the Berkshire outfit, with a 1-1 draw being earned against high-flying Norwich City and a late 2-1 defeat coming versus in-form Queens Park Rangers.
Even with those setbacks, the Royals remain two points adrift of the top spot, and Ince will be optimistic that they can return to winning ways against one of the division’s most underperforming teams.
The fixture will bring about a reunion for Andy Carroll, who spent half of last season at The Hawthorns before departing at the end of the campaign.
Following his sacking as West Brom manager, Richard Beale has been placed in temporary charge of the club. The Baggies drew 0-0 against Luton Town on Tuesday night, leaving them two points from safety at the bottom of the Championship table.
There is no full-time frontrunner for the role, and it remains to be seen if Beale’s players can perform with freedom.
Reading vs West Brom Head to Head
Both sides have 14 games against each other, with the hosts taking four wins while the visitors with six wins. Here is a look at their previous encounters:
Home
- QPR 2-1 Reading
- Reading 1-1 Norwich
- Reading 3-1 Huddersfield
- Wigan 0-1 Reading
Away
- West Brom 0-0 Luton
- Preston 1-0 West Brom
- West Brom 2-3 Swansea
- Norwich 1-1 West Brom
Reading Team News
Sam Hutchinson’s hamstring injury is expected to bring about a few changes in Reading’s lineup. Junior Hoilett will likely return on the right wing-back, while manager Paul Ince must decide whether to tinker with his setup in the final third.
Norwich City Team News
Beale will likely opt for the 3-4-3 formation that he used against Luton, but he could make personnel changes. John Swift is likely to have gained a recall, with Tom Rogic and Karlan Grant also pushing for opportunities.
Prediction and Odds
With West Bromwich Albion now under temporary management, anything could happen. However, we think Reading will take advantage of playing at home and win comfortably.
- Home Win
- Both Teams to Score
- First Half: 0-0
