Next into town is Blackburn Rovers. A team battling for points at the wrong end of the table and one that seems almost impossible for anyone to beat since Tony Mowbray took control a month two ago.
Not that the problem facing Reading will be much different from that Leeds posed. Another awkward northern side who are capable of presenting very dodgy moments and whom Reading will need to match toe to toe all the way through.
Logically expecting the typical well organised and proverbial bus to be parked firmly in front of their goal with emphasis on pacey breakaways - most probably from Reading's corners - being the order of the day from Hope and Danny's team. Note also that Rovers have only failed to score in one game in 2017 and that was on Saturday when they went down to a late goal on the south coast. On top of that, Saturday was their first defeat since Mowbray took over (a previous record of W2 D5 from 7 games)
Blackburn look to be without Corry Evans, Danny Graham and Adam Henley though injury while Reading will have a fitness test on Danny Williams. Joey van den Berg may be fit after being rested following a hamstring worry and Paul McShane really can't be too far away either. Jordan Obita should also make it after cramp in his calf caused hime to be substituted v Leeds
Referee
Nottinghamshire's James Adcock is has been assigned this one. Oddly it's his first game in charge since January when he refereed Reading's game with Cardiff
28 Jan 2017 > Reading 2-1 Cardiff City
13 Feb 2016 > Reading 0-0 Burnley
28 Sep 2014 > Reading 3-3 Wolverhampton Wanderers
22 Apr 2014 > Reading 2-0 Middlesbrough
28 Sep 2013 > Reading 2-0 Birmingham City
Historically
Eight previous league games in Reading against Blackburn and from that a whopping 2 wins! Although poor that does at least match the number of wins Blackburn have had in Reading so looks like a draw would not be a surprise to anyone at all (and of the 4 draws so far 3 of them have been devoid of any goals whatsoever).
