Preview:Cardiff City vs. Reading

Cardiff City and Reading are separated by just two points heading into their Championship encounter on Friday.

The Bluebirds have risen to 12th in the table since the appointment of Russell Slade as manager, but have failed to win or score in their previous two matches.

Reading sit two points and two places below them having struggled for consistency all season.

The Royals strung together three successive wins at the start of the campaign, but have failed to go two games without defeat since and lost at home to Charlton Athletic a fortnight ago.

Nigel Adkins has plenty of forward options to choose from, but Simon Cox and Jamie Mackie will probably keep Pavel Pogrebnyak and Nick Blackman on the bench.

Midfielder Hope Akpan faces three months out, while Anton Ferdinand is nearing a return and trained during the international break, but is unlikely to come into the starting lineup in Wales.

Having suggested that he could terminate his loan from West Ham United, Slade is poised to again leave talented midfielder Ravel Morrison out of his squad.

Kagisho Dikgacoi is a long-term absentee, but Kenwyne Jones could be back in contention after missing two matches on compassionate leave. Bruno Manga will undergo a late fitness test on his muscle strain.

Former Reading poacher Adam Le Fondre should be selected in a home XI that will include David Marshall and Anthony Pilkington, who were involved for Scotland and the Republic of Ireland respectively in the week.

Cardiff:

Recent form: DLWLWW

Possible starting lineup: Marshall; Brayford, Manga, S Morrison, Fabio; Noone, Gunnarsson, Whittingham, Pilkington; Le Fondre, Macheda

Reading:

Recent form: LWLWLL

Possible starting lineup: Federici; Kelly, Gunter, Hector, Pearce; Norwood, Williams, Mackie, Obita; Cox, Murray

Sports Mole says: 1-0