Reading will be aiming to give their survival ambitions a boost when they welcome Birmingham City to the Select Cars Leasing Stadium on Friday afternoon in the Championship.
The Royals have been thrown into the heat of a relegation battle following a six-point deduction, while Blues look set for a worry-free end to their 12th-straight season in the second tier.
Match preview
© Reuters
Reading manager Paul Ince insisted even when his side were near the playoffs in the autumn that his men were in a relegation battle, and it appears the former Manchester United player may have had an idea of what was coming.
A six-point deduction from the EFL for breaching an outlined business plan has plummeted the Royals down to 20th in the Championship standings, meaning they are now only a single point above the relegation zone with seven matches left to play.
The Berkshire outfit have also been struggling on the pitch of late, with Ince's men currently enduring a six-game winless run which commenced at the Riverside Stadium with a 5-0 battering at the hands of Middlesbrough.
The Royals have collected just two points since the start of March, although both of those results have arrived in the last two, with Reading playing out 1-1 draws with Hull City and Bristol City.
Lucas Joao rescued a point for his side at Ashton Gate last time out after Tommy Conway opened the scoring for the Robins - that away point was Reading's first since late December.
© Reuters
Birmingham further eased any relegation fears with a 1-0 success over Blackburn Rovers at St Andrew's at the weekend, with Reda Khadra netting the only goal of the game against his former employers.
The 21-year-old's low driven strike from outside the box provided the clinical touch that Blues have lacked without the German this season - one in which John Eustace's men have failed to keep up their early-campaign form.
Three maximums in the last four Championship matches have all been accompanied by clean sheets for John Ruddy, with the Second City club beginning to rediscover their defensive solidity after a shaky winter period.
Eustace's side sit 16th in the second-tier standings and possess a nine-point advantage over 22nd-placed Huddersfield Town - it would take an almighty collapse from Blues to see them playing League One football next season.
A win in Berkshire on Friday would take Birmingham's points tally over the coveted 50-point mark, although it is hardly ever the Blues way to get any survival business done early.
Team News
© Reuters
Reading will remain without Mamadou N'Diaye on Friday as the midfielder serves the final game of his three-match suspension for picking up a red card in the loss at Blackburn before the international break.
The Royals have limited options in defensive areas, with defenders Sam Hutchinson and Tom McIntyre sidelined due to Achilles and hamstring issues respectively.
Birmingham boss Eustace has provided some positive injury news ahead of the trip to Reading, with Dion Sanderson expected to be back in training next week following a back issue which looked set to end the youngster's campaign.
Troy Deeney is even closer to a return to first-team action after his hamstring injury and will provide healthy competition for Lukas Jutkiewicz and Scott Hogan when fit.
George Hall caught the eye in the win over Blackburn on Saturday and should be rewarded with another start in this one, keeping the likes of Hannibal Mejbri and Juninho Bacuna out of the side.
Reading possible starting lineup:
Lumley; Mbengue, Holmes, Sarr; Yiadom, Casadei, Hendrick, Fornah, Guinness-Walker; Carroll, Joao
Birmingham City possible starting lineup:
Ruddy; Colin, Roberts, Long, Trusty; Bielik, Chang, Khadra, Hall, Chong; Jutkiewicz
We say: Reading 1-2 Birmingham City
Reading are in a dangerous situation following their six-point deduction and desperately need three points to ease their understandable relegation worries.
Birmingham will be hopeful of continuing a decent run of results and performances in Berkshire on Friday, and we believe they will do just that to all but secure their Championship safety.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Carter White
