Reading host a resurgent Barnsley side at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday and will hope to arrest their dramatic slide with a positive result.

Meanwhile, relegation-threatened Barnsley are now within three points of safety and will be motivated to keep their recent winning streak going.

Match preview

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Reading have won just one of their last 10 league games - a 3-0 win against Sheffield Wednesday - losing five of those in the process.

The clean sheet they earned in that game is the only one Mark Bowen's side have kept in 11 league fixtures this calendar year, after a run of four games without conceding in December.

The Royals have slipped to 16th in the Championship table and are now just five points clear of the relegation zone, as their four-game winning run between the end of December and the beginning of January gave way to a seven-game winless streak.

Reading have the worst home record league in the were beaten 3-0 by 22nd-placed Wigan Athletic in their own backyard last time out, meaning the Madejski Stadium is unlikely to give the team much of a boost.

As a result, Bowen may not be confident of bettering the 1-1 draw they earned against Barnsley on the road in the reverse fixture earlier this season.

Gerhard Struber's men have now won three on the spin without conceding and appear to have turned a corner as they look to maintain their Championship status into next season.

A six-game winless run - featuring five losses and a four-match losing streak - was ended by a shock 3-0 win away at playoff contenders Fulham - a result which has clearly instilled confidence in the side.

Barnsley still have the third-worst defensive record in the Championship, however, behind only Queens Park Rangers and bottom-of-the-league Luton Town.

Reading Championship form: DDLWLL
Reading form (all competitions): WDLWLL

Barnsley Championship form: LDLWWW

Team News

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Reading manager Bowen has a fairly lengthy list of players that he is unable to select for the upcoming game.

Chris Gunter, Lucas Boye, Tom McIntyre, Matt Miazga and Lucas Joao are the five players still recovering from various injury problems.

The quintet are all expected to be out until at least next month.

Barnsley boss Struber has a slightly shorter injury list, with three players missing for the contest.

Callum Styles and Samuel Radlinger are sidelined with injury, while Bambo Diaby has been suspended by the club.

Reading possible starting lineup:
Cabral; Yiadom, Morrison, Moore, Richards; Araruna, Pele, Swift, Ejaria; Meite, Baldock

Barnsley possible starting lineup:
Collins; Williams, Sollbauer, Halme, Oduor; Thomas, Mowatt, Bahre; Woodrow; Brown, Chaplin

We say: Reading 0-1 Barnsley

Reading have failed to score in their last two games, while Barnsley have now won three in a row and their momentum could guide them to yet another win.

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