Still without a new permanent manager, up next for Queens Park Rangers in the Championship is a trip to Reading on Thursday night.

Both teams are in the top half, but neither is in particularly good form and points are needed to propel them up towards the playoffs.

Reading

A month-and-a-half ago, Reading defeated Charlton Athletic at The Valley for their fourth straight league win and sixth in seven games to leave them level on points with Middlesbrough in the automatic-promotion places and chasing down Brighton & Hove Albion at the top.

The next seven games have been nowhere near as fruitful. The Royals have managed just one win in that time - a 2-1 home victory over the league's current bottom side Bolton Wanderers - to drop down to ninth.

Steve Clarke's side are still only a point behind the top six, but dreams of a top-two push seem less likely now with Brighton, Boro, Derby County and Hull City looking particularly strong.

On Saturday, Reading took the lead away at Nottingham Forest inside a quarter of an hour through Matej Vydra, but then let in three goals before the 50-minute mark to give Forest just their second win in 11 matches.

The Royals are now without an away win in four, losing the last three, so they will be glad to return to the Madejski, where they have only been beaten once in the Championship this season.

Clarke's recent consideration of the vacant Fulham post, which he decided not to take, coupled with the Royals' downturn in form, has led to some calls online for his head, but the Scot insisted at his pre-match press conference that he takes no notice.

"Social media is a concept I don't really understand. That people go on there and pour out their emotions online. I'm probably from a different generation," he said.

Recent form: LDDLWL

QPR

It is almost a month since Chris Ramsey was dismissed as head coach of the R's and Neil Warnock remains in interim charge.

The 67-year-old is now one of the favourites to be given the job on a short-term deal until the end of the season as QPR's drawn-out pursuit of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has yielded no deal with Burton Albion.

Hasselbaink recently claimed that QPR are yet to approach Burton for his services and it remains up in the air whether the former striker is going to take the reins in West London.

On the pitch, Warnock gave his chances of getting the job full-time a boost with his first win on Saturday as Leeds United were put to the sword at Loftus Road.

QPR had lost three and won none of their previous four games without scoring but ended their drought against the Whites as Charlie Austin headed home with his first touch after being introduced as a second-half substitute - his first goal in over two months.

With Austin back on the scoresheet, speculation has again surfaced about the future of the striker, with Southampton said to be the favourites to land the 26-year-old in January.

Recent form: WLLDLW

Team News

Reading skipper Paul McShane is a major doubt for Thursday's contest after taking a blow to the face in the closing stages of the defeat to Forest.

Anton Ferdinand and Jake Cooper are likely to battle it out to replace McShane if he is not passed fit, while further forward Vydra should continue with Garath McCleary possibly out again.

For the visitors, Austin, unless still not fully fit, should return to the starting lineup after his instant goalscoring impact against Leeds.

Elsewhere, Tjarron Chery could also be named in the starting XI for the first time since October following his cameo at the weekend.

Reading possible starting lineup:
Al-Habsi; Gunter, McShane, Hector, Taylor; Norwood, Williams; Blackman, Piazon, Vydra; Sa

QPR possible starting lineup:
Green; Perch, Hall, Onuoha, Konchesky; Sandro, Faurlin; Phillips, Chery, Hoilett; Austin

Head To Head

Reading are unbeaten in their last four league encounters with QPR, although three of those have finished as draws. They won the most recent meeting at Loftus Road 3-1 thanks to second-half strikes from Alex Pearce and McCleary.

Goals might be hard to come by on Thursday - the last five league encounters between these two in Reading have seen just four goals scored.

We say: Reading 1-1 QPR

With neither side enjoying decent form, a clear winner does not stand out. Should QPR appoint a new manager in time, the momentum might be with them, but for now a draw seems like the most likely result.