Relegation-threatened Reading will welcome Port Vale to the Select Car Leasing Stadium for Saturday's League One contest.

The hosts are sitting in 21st place and three points adrift from safety, while Port Vale head into the weekend in 14th position.

Match preview

Reading, who have had four points deducted this season, have boosted their survival hopes with a six-game unbeaten league run, consisting of two victories and four draws.

The most recent of those wins took place on New Year's Day when they took the lead on three occasions to record a narrow 3-2 home victory over Exeter City.

Despite proving to be a tough team to beat in the league, Reading experienced disappointment in Tuesday's EFL Trophy clash with Brighton Under-21s.

After playing out a goalless draw, Reading were unable to hold their nerve from the spot, missing three penalties to lose the shootout via a 3-2 scoreline, ensuring that their EFL Trophy run came to an end at the last-16 stage.

With the Royals out of all cup competitions, they will now turn their full focus to their League One survival bid, beginning with Saturday's fixture, where they will have the chance to claim a third consecutive home victory.

Meanwhile, Port Vale are still searching for their first win of 2024 after beginning the new year with a defeat to Carlisle United and a draw against Charlton Athletic.

While they could not pick up three points against the Addicks, the result may have felt like a victory after they came from behind on three occasions to take a point off Michael Appleton's side.

Ethan Chislett and Uche Ikpeazu cancelled out Charlton's first two goals, before Tyreece Campbell put the Addicks 3-2 in front, but just as the contest appeared to be slipping from Port Vale's grasp, Gavin Massey netted a crucial 92nd-minute equaliser.

Although Andy Crosby would have been pleased by the fight that his side showed last weekend, he will be concerned by the fact that they have now shipped 38 goals in 25 league matches – only Fleetwood Town and Reading have conceded more in the third tier.

With the Valiants struggling defensively, they will look to produce the sort of resolute performance that saw them claim a clean sheet in their 1-0 win over Reading in the reverse fixture.

Team News

Reading boss Ruben Selles is set to welcome Harvey Knibbs and Sam Smith back into the fold after the pair were left out of the squad for the EFL Trophy clash with Brighton Under-21s.

Defender Andy Yiadom could also be passed fit for Saturday's contest, having missed the last five matches through injury.

Tom Holmes, who missed Reading's last league game due to injury, is likely to come into the side to partner Nelson Abbey in central defence.

As for the visitors, they are expected to be without Mitch Clark, Dan Jones, James Plant and Funso Ojo due to injury.

There are doubts surrounding the availability of Jesse Debrah and Ben Garrity, while Josh Thomas has returned to Swansea City following a loan spell.

Tom Conlon has also left the club to complete a permanent move to Oldham Athletic, but Port Vale have strengthened their ranks with the loan signing of Jensen Weir from Brighton & Hove Albion.

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

Port Vale possible starting lineup:
Ripley; Iacovitti, Lowe, Smith; Massey, Weir, Devine, Grant; Wilson, Chislett; Ikpeazu

We say: Reading 2-2 Port Vale

With Reading and Port Vale both struggling to keep the ball out of the net, we think that Saturday's contest could prove to be an entertaining one.

While we expect the game to produce goals, we also believe that the encounter will finish all square, especially as Reading have drawn four of their last six league games.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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