Reading will attempt to claim a third consecutive league win when they welcome Barnsley to the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Saturday.

The visitors, meanwhile, will have the chance to record a second straight league victory following their recent win over Wycombe Wanderers.

Match preview

After enduring a nine-game winless league run, relegation-threatened Reading have shown signs of fight in their last two league matches, claiming a narrow 2-1 win over Wycombe Wanderers, before thrashing Carlisle United 5-1 at the end of November.

Those results lifted the Royals off the foot of the League One table, but they still have significant work to do with six points separating them from safety.

Reading have put their survival bid on hold to focus on last Sunday's FA Cup tie against non-league Eastleigh at Silverlake Stadium, where Femi Azeez thought he had salvaged a replay with a late equaliser, only for Paul McCallum to net a stoppage-time winner to condemn Ruben Selles's side to a second-round exit.

While they experienced disappointment in one cup competition, the Royals enjoyed success in Wednesday's EFL Trophy fixture against Charlton Athletic, with Charlie Savage netting an 82nd-minute leveller before Reading held their nerve to win the subsequent penalty shootout.

After securing their place in the last 16, the Royals will now turn their focus back to their relegation fight, and they will have the chance to record three consecutive league victories for the first time this season.

In contrast to their hosts, Barnsley experienced disappointment in their midweek EFL Trophy tie, as they gave up a slender one-goal advantage to lose 2-1 to Blackpool at Bloomfield Road.

After recently being expelled from the FA Cup for fielding an ineligible player, the Tykes have now exited all three cup competitions, leaving them to fully focus on their attempts to end their two-season stay in the third tier.

Having picked 31 points from 18 matches, Barnsley are currently sitting in seventh place with just two points separating them from the top six.

In their most recent league outing against Wycombe, Sam Cosgrove netted a dramatic stoppage-time winner to guide his side to a narrow 1-0 home victory, giving them the chance to claim a second straight league win this weekend.

Although Barnsley have failed to win any of their previous three league games on the road, they still boast the joint third-best away record, having picked up 18 points from their nine away matches in the third tier.

Team News

Reading recently suffered a significant injury blow after Southampton loanee Dom Ballard was ruled out for the rest of the season with a serious knee injury.

Tom McIntyre is still a couple of weeks away from returning to action, while Jeriel Dorsett is a doubt due to a knee problem.

Having missed the last two games with an ankle issue, full-back Andy Yiadom is expected to return for Saturday's contest.

As for the visitors, they will have to assess the fitness of John McAtee after the forward was forced off at half time of Tuesday's EFL Trophy defeat.

After being rested against Blackpool, midfielder Luca Connell and striker Devante Cole are set to return to the starting lineup.

Jordan Williams is also in line for a recall, and he could be joined in a back three by Mael de Gevigney and Jamie McCart.

Reading possible starting lineup:
Button; Yiadom, Holmes, Abbey, Mola, Azeez, Wing, Savage, Mukairu, Smith, Knibbs

Barnsley possible starting lineup:
Killip; Williams, De Gevigney, McCart; Cotter, Kane, Connell, Styles, Cadden; Cosgrove, Cole

We say: Reading 2-2 Barnsley

While Reading may be languishing in the relegation zone, one defeat in five competitive matches suggests that the Royals may be on the up, and we think that Selles's rejuvenated side will do enough to take a point off playoff-chasing Barnsley on Saturday.

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