Reading FC vs Brentford: Match Preview

We return to league action after a terrific cup performance on Tuesday night, Reading now facing one of their supposed “bogey” teams in the form of Brentford. Reading have picked up a good run of form after the poor loss to Birmingham, but will this continue on Saturday?

Reading

Form (all competitions): DLDDW

Striker Jòn Dadi Bödvarsson was the star man on Tuesday with a hat trick to seal progression to the next round of the FA Cup. He will look set to keep his spot going into the game leaving Kermorgant back on the bench, whilst Paul McShane and John Swift miss out with hamstring problems picked up from the Hull match.

Reading could play a similar team once again to Tuesday with a mix of established team members and young players on the bench.

Top goalscorer: Modou Barrow (7)

Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images

Brentford

Form (all competitions): WWLLW

Brentford are sitting nicely in 11th in the league after a string of good results and smart investments after selling Jota and Scott Hogan. A win today could see them move three points behind sixth place Sheffield Utd. They have a few returning players with John Egan and Henrik Dalsgaard possibly being involved at some point in the game.

Top goalscorer: Ollie Watkins (8)

What do the stats say?

• Reading’s 3-2 win at the Mad Stad last season ended a run of three consecutive home league defeats against the Bees.
• The Royals have scored in all but one of their last 14 league matches against Brentford.
• A win on Saturday would be The Royals’ first in eight Championship games (D3 L4) - they’ve scored only two goals in their last six (Burton home, Barnsley away).

How can I follow the game?

Audio coverage is on BBC Radio Berkshire at 104.4, but not available online. Coverage is also available on the EFL iFollow service but no video coverage will be streaming the game. Full match highlights will be available on the app after the game.

Reading Football Club will post highlights of the game on their respected social media pages and YouTube channel.

Prediction: Reading 1-1 Brentford