Looking to move one step closer to the top-six positions, Reading will take on title favourites Birmingham City at Select Car Leasing Stadium in League One on Saturday afternoon.
The Royals have enjoyed a stellar February schedule to date ahead of this weekend, whilst Blues are on course for two trophies this season.
Match preview
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Since a three-game losing run to end January on a sour note, Reading have relished in an unbeaten February, recording two wins and two draws across a quartet of matches to give their hopes of earning promotion back to the Championship a major shot in the arm ahead of the final 15 battles.
The Royals continued their excellent form at the Select Car Leasing Stadium last Saturday afternoon, when a brilliant brace from midfielder Harvey Knibbs secured maximum points against Rotherham United, with the Royals star scoring 11 third-tier goals so far this campaign.
Recording their 14th third-tier success of the season last time out, Noel Hunt's troops moved up to ninth in the League One standings ahead of this weekend's hosting of Birmingham, four points behind Leyton Orient, who are currently occupying the lowest of the playoff spots.
A major trump card in their quest for a top-six placement, Reading have been exceptional at their Berkshire base during the 2024-25 season, with the Royals collecting 34 points at home - only Birmingham (39) and Wrexham (39) have earned more in front of their respective supporters.
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Thirty years after lifting the EFL Trophy in 1995, Birmingham City are back in the final of the same competition after an eventful evening in the Second City on Tuesday night, when the League One juggernauts squeezed past the attentions of Bradford City in the semi-final.
It looked as if Blues were on course for a routine victory at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park when £20m man Jay Stansfield opened the scoring in the first half, but the hosts required a late winner via the head of Lyndon Dykes following a Bobby Painton equaliser for the plucky Bantams.
After winning three straight matches on home soil, Birmingham are now back on the third-tier road for the first time since a narrow success at Huddersfield Town on January 28, when a world-class volley from winger Keshi Anderson decided the contest on a cold evening in Yorkshire.
With Wrexham losing to Leyton Orient earlier in the week, Chris Davies's men now have two games and 11 points over the third-placed Red Dragons, meaning that the Second City club are in prime position to confirm automatic promotion long before the end of the season.
Team News
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After another victory last time out, Reading should stick with a centre-back pairing of Amadou Mbengue and Tyler Bindon for the trip to the Second City.
The only player through the doors in Berkshire during the January transfer window, Billy Bodin will be looking to make an impact off the bench this weekend.
Those of a Birmingham persuasion have held their breath for news surrounding the condition of Jay Stansfield, who was stretchered off during the Bradford win on Tuesday.
Thankfully for Blues, the 22-year-old has not suffered a break of the leg or ligament damage, although he is extremely unlikely to feature at Reading.
As a result, Alfie May could be drafted into the starting XI as a replacement, whilst Scotland international Dykes is also in line for more minutes.
Reading possible starting lineup:
Pereira; Craig, Mbengue, Bindon, Garcia; Knibbs, Wing, Savage; Campbell, Ehibhatiomhan, Wareham
Birmingham City possible starting lineup:
Allsop; Laird, Klarer, Davies, Cochrane; Paik, Iwata; Dowell, Willumsson, Anderson; Dykes
We say: Reading 1-1 Birmingham City
After the ecstasy of booking a spot at Wembley on Tuesday night, there could be a lull for Birmingham in Berkshire on Saturday afternoon.
Reading are mightily impressive on home soil and will fancy their chances of securing a respectable point against Blues from this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
