Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the clash between Reading and Ipswich Town at the Madejski Stadium. After a two-week international break, Championship action is finally back as two sides with playoff aspirations meet in Berkshire.

Reading, who come into this game four points adrift of their opponents, picked up a first league win of the campaign last time out, while Ipswich saw their unbeaten start come to an end in a 3-2 reverse at home to early pacesetters Brighton & Hove Albion.

There is plenty to get through between now and kickoff at 8pm, so let's get straight into things by taking a look at some team news.

TEAM NEWS!

READING: Bond; Gunter, Obita, Ferdinand, McShane; Norwood, Quinn, Tshibola, Blackman; Sa, Vydra

IPSWICH TOWN: Gerken; Chambers, Smith, Berra, Knudsen; Skuse, Douglas, Fraser, Sears; McGoldrick, Pitman

Let's start by taking a look at the home side, then, which includes new arrival Matej Vydra. The Royals have lacked the little bit of cutting edge needed up top, so the Championship Player of the Year from a couple of season's back looks to be a very shrewd - albeit expensive - loan signing.

Hal Robson-Kanu is the man to make way, which is perhaps a little wise considering his exploits for Wales over the past eight days or so. Aaron Tshibola also comes in for Danny Williams, meaning that Orlando Sa will be given the chance to build on his first goal for the club which came against Brentford last time out.

That could perhaps mean Reading switching to a classic 4-4-2 formation, and it will certainly be interesting to see if Vydra does indeed add an extra dimension to the attacking line. In terms of the visitors, meanwhile, Luke Chambers has been shifted into a right-back position to shore up the defence.

That means no place in the starting lineup for youngster Josh Emmanuel, with Christoph Berra making a welcome return in the heart of defence. Ipswich tend not to win when Berra is absent, so his return from injury is a welcome boost heading into this Friday night clash in Berkshire.

BENCH WATCH!

READING SUBS: Al-Habsi, Hector, Robson-Kanu, Piazon, Williams, John

IPSWICH TOWN SUBS: Bialkowski, Malarczyk, Parr, Coke, Maitland-Niles, Toure, Murphy

Mick McCarthy has also opted to recall David McGoldrick to the starting lineup, which leaves Ainsley Maitland-Niles having to make do with a place among the back-ups this evening. Michael Hector completed a surprise move to Chelsea on deadline day, but he has since been loaned back to the Royals and is among the matchday squad.

Can this man replicate his Watford form in a Reading shirt? His cutting edge up top certainly provides the Royals with some extra quality.

© Getty Images

Well Reading head into this game on the back of a much-needed first win last time out. The international break probably came at the wrong time for Steve Clarke's men, who would have been on a real high on the back of their showing at Brentford. Prior to that, it was a sombre start to the campaign with three draws from the opening four games.

Ipswich supporters will be more than happy with their side's start to things, albeit with a blemished record following that 3-2 defeat at home to early pacesetters Brighton & Hove Albion prior to the two-week hiatus. The opening-day draw to Brentford may have felt like a defeat under the circumstances, but 10 points from a possible 15 is not bad going whatsoever.

DID YOU KNOW? Ipswich have scored exactly two goals in each of their last seven outings, excluding playoff fixtures - a run stretching back into last season when they fell just short in the playoffs.

That defeat to Brighton may just have taken some of the wind out of Town's sails, but compared to fellow promotion hopefuls Derby County, for example, then it has been a fine start to the campaign. McCarthy certainly knows how to assemble a promotion-winning squad, and while last season may have proved to be just a little too much, the signs are there that this time around might be slightly different.

Reading were busy in the latter stages of the transfer window, meanwhile, bringing in the likes of Lucas Piazon, Ola John and the aforementioned Vydra to truly bolster their ranks. There is a real feel-good factor around the Madejski Stadium at this moment in time, with supporters claiming that this group is as good as any other since their relegation from the Premier League.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Reading have won seven of their last eight fixtures against Ipswich, losing the other match during that run. In fact, the Tractor Boys have tasted victory on just one of their last 10 visits to the MadStad, which is a record that they will certainly need to improve upon this evening.

Well this is just the start of a full Football League programme this weekend. We have a second top-of-the-table clash of the season tomorrow afternoon when Brighton host Hull City, while Fulham and Blackburn conclude the busy programme when they face off at Craven Cottage on Sunday afternoon. All the action, as ever, can be followed right here.

Switching attention back to this evening's game now, though, and there is a real chance for Ipswich to stake an early claim at the top of the division. We may only be five games in, and a lot can certainly happen between now and May, but it is always nice to look down on all the others at this early stage.

Reading, on the other hand, can drag their way into the playoff zone with a win in front of their home supporters - a position they are aiming to finish in this term - but defeat would leave them marooned in mid-table with all those around them still to play. Positions count for very little at this stage, however, with points simply the main focus.

Right, that's enough of my pre-match rambling for the time being. I'll let the Sports Mole Sofa team provide you with every last detail, with a little over five minutes to go before kickoff:

PREDICTION! Not since early April have Reading scored at the Madejski Stadium, but with the key addition of Vydra up top that may very well change this evening. Ipswich, who hardly boast the finest away record, certainly have plenty about them, but I'm going with a 1-1 draw in Berkshire this evening.

Both sides are now out on the field, with kickoff just a matter of moments away. This one is set up nicely, so let's just hope we see an entertaining affair!

KICKOFF! Reading get us underway at the Madejski Stadium against an Ipswich side who are quick to close down each pass.

Reading have made the better start, attacking down the right-hand side in particular and winning an early corner which comes to nothing.

Obita is in some real pain on the touchline following a challenge with Sears. There didn't look to be a great deal in it, but replays suggest that he perhaps got his shoulder stuck in the ground. An early change is likely to be made by Steve Clarke here.

Neither side have really found their groove so far, but Reading certainly look to livelier when they get on the ball. Obita is still off the field, but he may just be able to shake off that injury picked up a couple of minutes ago.

It's a home goal for Reading - their first since the middle of April! It was a decent one, too, which came from Blackman's cross on the right-hand side. The ball was allowed to come in, with Knudsen simply not doing enough to close him down, and it was met superbly by Sa who guided home his second goal in the same number of games.

Ipswich were behind for just a few minutes, with Sears bundling the ball over the line to bring Ipswich back on level terms. It is the visitors' first attack of note, in truth, which was all about the skill of summer recruit Ryan Fraser. The former Bournemouth man showed some sublime footwork inside the box, before getting in a shot which Bond could only push into the path of a grateful Sears.

Incredible! A ground that has been starved of goals in recent times, particularly from a home perspective, has thrown up three in the opening 15 minutes. It is another decent goal from Sa, which this time is from distance rather than close range. The summer signing, who now has three in his last two game, found space on the edge of the box and rifled it past the reach of Gerken and into the far corner.

Five shots on target inside the opening quarter of this breathtaking encounter. I tell you what - this one certainly has more goals in it if it remains as open as it is right now. Ipswich the side now on top, as they search for a second equaliser of the contest.

SHOT! Berra nods a header goalwards, which Reading just about clear away. The ball only lands as far as full-back Knudsen, though, with his long-range drive giving Bond an almighty fright as it flashed narrowly wide of goal.

CLOSE! Reading have been unable to get their foot on the ball since taking the lead, with Ipswich dominating things in an attacking sense. Sears is the latest to come close, showing some fine footwork before smashing high over the bar from a tight angle.

The Royals finally manage to relieve some of the pressure that had been building, looking to Gunter to provide some width down the right. This is the quietest spell of the game so far.

Fraser opts to shoot, rather than playing in a better-placed teammate, which proves to be a bad decision. The former Bournemouth man's strike was always rising high of the target.

Another hour or so remaining for Orlando Sa to go and bag himself a hat-trick goal...

PHOTO: The Royals boys congratulate @ORLANDOSA10 on his second goal against Ipswich. pic.twitter.com/VTCGQ6ht5k — Reading FC (@ReadingFC) September 11, 2015

Ipswich have been the better side since the game's third goal, but McCarthy will be a little disappointed that his men have failed to create any real clear-cut openings. Reading are happy to just sit back and hit their opponents on the counter at the moment.

There was obviously a lot of talk surrounding Vydra pre-match, but his arrival will also loosen the shackles of Sa - as witnessed already this evening. What a signing he could turn out to be for the Royals.

YELLOW CARD! The first card of the evening goes to Luke Chambers for his challenge on Stephen Quinn.

The free kick is swung in well, and it forces Gerken into action to turn it away from danger. The offside flag had already been raised, however, so Ipswich avoided another scare.

There's some movement down on the Ipswich bench, which could signal that McCarthy is ready to make a change. Jonathan Parr appears to be the man who is coming on.

YELLOW CARD! Cautions have replaced goals, it seems. Skuse brings down Aaron Tshibola to earn a deserved yellow. Incidentally, Parr has now sat back down, so McCarthy may be waiting out until half time before making a change.

Some very nice Reading play comes to nothing, as a pass into Vydra's path has just a little too much on it. Moments later, an almost identical quick-fire passing move ends in a similar fashion.

YELLOW CARD! Another easy decision for Roger East, with Fraser cynically bringing down Norwood to earn the contest's third caution.

While the goals have dried up since that third strike on the 14-minute mark, it has still been a decent enough contest. The latest half-chance has fallen the way of McGoldrick, who headed wide from six yards out. The Ipswich man appeared to be tugged back, but he bizarrely didn't claim anything.

Three more minutes to be played at the end of this entertaining first half at the Madejski Stadium.

I think both teams will be happy to take half time now, as this contest goes through a little barren spell. McGoldrick did get in around the back of the Reading defence, but the flag was already up on the far side.

Reading hold a slender lead at half time, then, thanks to Orlando Sa's quick-fire double. Those two efforts were separated by Freddie Sears's close-range strike, in a game that saw three goals inside the opening 14 minutes.

Reading supporters have had to wait some 626 minutes for a goal, but they were treated to two early on in Berkshire this evening. The first came via Blackman's cross on the right, which Sa superbly guided beyond the grasp of Gerken to open the scoring.

The equalising goal was bundled home by Sears a couple of minutes later, but the build-up was all about Fraser's quick footwork to create space for the shot, which Bond subsequently parried into Sears.

Sa's second goal came at the end of a Reading counter-attack, with the striker slotting the ball into the far corner of the net from the edge of the box. Ipswich have edged things since that point, without being able to find a way through.

BENCH WATCH!

READING SUBS: Al-Habsi, Hector, Robson-Kanu, Piazon, Williams, John

IPSWICH TOWN SUBS: Bialkowski, Malarczyk, Parr, Coke, Maitland-Niles, Toure, Murphy

Mick McCarthy appeared to be readying Jonathan Parr to come on, with Luke Chambers thought to be experiencing blurred vision. It will be interesting to see if that change does indeed go ahead at the break, while the hosts are likely to remain as they were.

Both teams are now back out on the field, with no news of any half-time changes. If the opening 15 minutes of the first half is anything to go by, then we should be in for a thriller!

RESTART! Ipswich get us back underway, then, knowing that they need a couple of goals to take them up to top spot.

Positive enough start to the second period for Town, with Pitman smashing the ball over the bar from the edge of the box. Reading showing no signs of sitting back, which should provide an open affair.

It's a real thunderbolt from Blackman, who is somehow allowed to shift the ball onto his left foot and rifle into the roof of the net from a tight angle. Prior to that, Sa probably should have bagged his hat-trick when picked out by Blackman, but a breakdown in communication at the back from Ipswich saw the ball cleared only as far as the forward to do the rest.

Defence, always a strong point for Ipswich in the past, has let them down once more on the whole this evening. From failing to stop crosses coming into the box, to that calamity for the third Reading goal, they have been the victims of their own downfall.

Vydra curls an effort over the bar, offering a sign of his rustiness perhaps. The loanee may be replaced as we approach the hour mark, with Hal Robson-Kanu a more than capable stand-in up top.

Reading break forward in numbers yet again, with Quinn this time leading the charge. His stray pass, well out of reach of Vydra and Blackman, allowed Gerken to collect and end the danger.

We are now pretty much at the hour mark, yet there is still no sign of any changes. Daryl Murphy, the division's top scorer last season, is on the bench for Ipswich this evening.

OFF THE BAR! So unlucky from Pitman, who looks to clip a header over Bond. The ball crashes back off the bar, meaning the Royals still just about have the breathing space of a two-goal lead.

Orlando Sa has his hat-trick goal, but yet again the hard work is done by Nick Blackman out wide. This time he charged to the byline, again on the end of a counter-attacking move, allowing Sa to simply tap the ball home when picked out. Great performance from Reading, though it was so nearly 3-2 just a few moments ago.

IPSWICH TOWN SUBS! Murphy is finally thrown on, with Pitman the man to make way. Arsenal loanee Maitland-Niles is also on for these final 25 minutes in place of Fraser.

Blackman and Sa have taken Ipswich's defence apart this evening:

Take a bow, @ORLANDOSA10. pic.twitter.com/opMOJpJSrH — Reading FC (@ReadingFC) September 11, 2015

It is a case of damage limitation for Ipswich Town now, who will not want to see their goal difference take any more of a battering. They have now lost eight of their last nine against Reading.

The attendance has just been announced at 16,809, 1,602 of them away supporters, as Reading continue to play with a swagger.

Ipswich have actually outscored their opponents in terms of shots, but Reading's five on-target attempts, compared to the Tractor Boys' two, shows that they now have some added class in attack.

READING SUB! Matej Vydra's Reading debut comes to a close, with another new boy coming on in his place. Lucas Piazon will be given the final 15 minutes to get up to speed.

READING SUB! Another debut for Reading, as Ola John replaces Nick Blackman. It has been a superb performance from the forward, who can be delighted with the shift that he has put in.

In fairness, we have seen very little action in this second half bar Sa's hat-trick goal. Pitman also struck the bar with his headed attempt, but chances have proved to be few and far between on the whole.

Maitland-Niles meets a back-post cross, but can neither get a shot away nor put the ball back into the mix. Bad control from the Arsenal loanee, who is still looking to get up to speed.

READING SUB! Orlando Sa, the man of the moment, leaves the field to a standing ovation. Wales international Hal Robson-Kanu has now joined the party.

Ipswich having to do some more defending now; showing little signs of themselves attacking. Full time is needed for them now, while the Royals will just want to keep playing.

Well this is a strong contender from goal of the season from Norwood, which just puts the icing on the cake for Reading. The midfielder picked up the ball around 32 yards from goal, letting rip with an absolute screamer which Gerken failed to react to. Even if the Town stopper had moved, there was no way he was keeping it out.

McCarthy will be absolutely furious with this performance, but there are plenty of fixtures to come over the next few weeks to put things right. Three more minutes to go here.

YELLOW CARD! Knudsen hauls back substitute John and earns himself a late booking. Norwood is standing over the free kick...

The set piece is well worked; Norwood swinging one in for Robson-Kanu, which the Welshman in turn puts into a nice area, but Gerken gets there first.

Well there we have it. Reading have produced one of the performances of the season to lift themselves up to fifth place in the Championship table, at the expense of a well-beaten Ipswich Town side.

Orlando Sa will take all the plaudits for his hat-trick, but special praise must also go to Nick Blackman for his work in four of the goals. Oliver Norwood, too, can be delighted with his shift after smashing home a real cracker at the end.

That brings to an end Sports Mole's live text coverage from this evening's match at the Madejski Stadium, but be sure to come back tomorrow for an action-packed day of live sporting action.