A chance to pick up consecutive league wins for the first time this season awaits Reading when they welcome Burton Albion to the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Burton, on the other hand, still await their first league victory of the campaign and head into Tuesday's clash off the back of three straight defeats across all competitions.
Match preview
Having been pegged back three minutes from time in their curtain-raiser, Reading got their league journey off to a disappointing start in a 1-1 draw against Birmingham City before losing out to Colchester United in the first round of the EFL Cup three days later.
However, the Berkshire outfit wasted no time turning things around, as a 2-0 victory over Charlton Athletic just before the international break saw them win for a third time in four matches, but consecutive losses against Leyton Orient (1-0) and Bolton Wanderers (5-2) dampened the mood.
Ruben Selles's men were heading for a third defeat on the bounce after going behind to Matthew Pearson's opener against Huddersfield, after which goals in either half from Harvey Knibbs and Ben Elliott completed a sensational turnaround to spark celebrations at full time.
Given the manner of their victory last time out, the Royals will be hoping it serves as a catalyst to string together a decent run of results and move closer to the playoff places as they currently sit 15th in the League One table.
Reading's next assignment sees them face off against an opposing side who claimed four points from a possible six across both of last season's league clashes, with a 3-2 victory in the reverse meeting preceding a goalless stalemate in the earlier encounter.
A second cup exit already was the latest low for Burton Albion heading into their most recent league involvement against Blackpool at Bloomfield Road on Saturday afternoon.
While Mark Robinson's men did put up some resistance in their midweek defeat to Notts County, they went down without a whimper last time out as goals from Odeluga Offiah, Robert Apter and Lee Evans settled a one-sided affair.
That was a 10th outing this season for the Yellow and Black Army, who have managed just one victory—a narrow 2-1 triumph over the Leicester City Under-21s in August's EFL Trophy tie.
Unsurprisingly, Burton are 22nd in the league standings, and defeat on Tuesday could see them fall six points adrift of safety a few months after narrowly escaping relegation by two points last season.
Since playing out back-to-back goalless draws against Stevenage and Northampton Town, Tuesday's visitors have conceded nine times in their subsequent four outings and will need to shore things up at the back to stand any chance of securing a positive result here.
Team News
Reading's Jeriel Dorsett is expected to spend at least four more weeks on the sidelines with an ankle injury that saw him come off against Bolton Wanderers.
Skipper Andy Yiadom remains without an appearance since April and will not be featuring again this year due to a long-term knee problem.
Goalkeeper Joel Pereira is drawing increasingly closer to a return to action after missing each of his side's last three games through a twisted ankle.
Julian Larsson, Alex Bannon and Jason Sraha have all just recently returned from injury and will be eased back gradually into the action, making them doubtful to start in this one.
Since joining as a free agent from Chelsea, Charlie Webster still awaits his first outing for Burton due to injury, while Jack Hazlehurst and Mason Bennett miss out too.
The away side will also be without the services of Billy Bodin and Geraldo Bajrami, although the latter is not far off making his comeback to the first-team picture.
Reading possible starting lineup:
Button; Craig, Mbengue, Bindon, Abrefa; Elliott, Wing, Knibbs; Campbell, Smith, Ehibhatiomhan
Burton Albion possible starting lineup:
Crocombe; Sweeney, Armer, Vancooten; Williams, Watt, Chauke, Godwin-Malife; Cooper-Love, Whitfield, Orsi-Dadomo
We say: Reading 2-0 Burton Albion
Reading have some momentum courtesy of their last triumph and will back themselves to see off the threat of a struggling Burton side.
We fully expect the home side to collect maximum points in front of their fans for the second game running.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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