Reading will be looking to avoid three-straight defeats when they welcome Millwall to the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Saturday afternoon in the Championship.
A poor recent run of form is seeing the Royals' season fizzle out into mid-table mediocrity, whereas Millwall are embroiled in a fierce battle for a playoff position despite losing last time out.
Match preview
© Reuters
Reading have lost three of their last four Championship fixtures ahead of this weekend's clash with the Lions - a run of results which has ended any faint hopes of the Berkshire club making a late push for the playoffs.
The lowest point in the most-recent quartet of games was certainly felt at the Riverside Stadium last Saturday, with braces from Chuba Akpom and Aaron Ramsey - coupled with a Marcus Forss strike - condemning Paul Ince's men to a 5-0 defeat.
The Royals have struggled away from home this campaign - collecting only 11 points from 18 Championship outings - however that battering in Teesside represented their heaviest to date, although a 4-0 loss at newly-promoted Rotherham United back in August may have bruised a few more egos.
Ince's side face their second home match in five days following a narrow defeat to promoting-chasing Sheffield United on Tuesday night, with the magical Iliman Ndiaye stealing the points for the Blades after an hour of the contest - one that Reading produced more shots in, but ultimately to no tangible reward.
That loss leaves the Royals 15th in the league standings with a 12-point advantage over the bottom three, meaning that it would take an almighty collapse - or a possible points deduction - to see Reading be dragged into a relegation battle, so many predicted for them before a ball had been kicked.
© Reuters
Millwall, like their hosts on Saturday, come into this matchup having lost their last Championship fixture, but there is still everything to gain for Gary Rowett's side this season.
The 3-2 defeat to Norwich City last weekend could prove to be a turning point in the race for the playoffs this season, with that maximum at The Den for the Canaries allowing them to leapfrog their London counterparts into sixth place with just 11 games to go.
The Lions are in a promising run of long-term from despite defeat last time out, with Rowett's men having lost just twice in their last nine second-tier fixtures - the type of record that will give any team a chance of competing at the top end of the league.
Sitting seventh in the Championship table and just one point behind the top six, Millwall are in striking distance of the playoffs as the season reaches its business end, and with matches against Reading, Swansea City and Huddersfield Town scheduled before the international break, the Londoners will be hoping to move up the table within the next week.
Millwall will be looking to avoid a second defeat of the campaign against the Royals, with Naby Sarr's first-half strike at The Den in August securing Ince's charges a rare away victory.
Team News
© Reuters
Reading have suffered another injury blow this week, with manager Ince revealing that attacker Yakou Meite is expected to be out for around a month after the 27-year-old picked up an injury which saw him left out of the matchday squad on Tuesday night.
Junior Hoilett faces a battle to return to Championship action before the season ends following a hamstring injury sustained last month, with the Canadian having featured 32 times for the Royals so far this term.
Full-back Abdul Baba Rahman is expected back after the international break as he continues to recover from an ankle injury, whereas Dejan Tetek will be sidelined for the remainder of the campaign due to a leg injury.
Millwall boss Rowett is hopeful of having winger Tyler Burey back on the pitch before the international break - the 22-year-old has not appeared for the club since the FA Cup defeat against Sheffield United back in January.
The former Birmingham City manager is also optimistic on the timelines of returns for Billy Mitchell and Mason Bennett, with Rowett stating the club are aiming to have both players available for the start of next month following ankles injuries.
Callum Styles is the only long-term absentee amongst the Millwall ranks at the moment - a muscle issue is set to keep the energetic Hungarian out until May.
Reading possible starting lineup:
Lumley; Holmes, Dann, Sarr; Yiadom, Ince, Hendrick, McIntyre, Azeez; Carroll, Joao
Millwall possible starting lineup:
Long; McNamara, Cresswell, Cooper, Wallace; Leonard, Saville, Burke, Flemming, Honeyman; Bradshaw
We say: Reading 0-1 Millwall
News of Reading's imminent six-point deduction has appeared to have distracted the playing staff, and the visit of a strong Millwall side is not an occasion to have the focus elsewhere.
The Lions put in a valiant effort despite defeat against Norwich last Saturday, and they should be able to return to winning ways in Berkshire as the playoff race intensifies.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
