Preview: Reading vs. Derby County

Derby County could move to the top of the Championship table with victory over Reading when they travel to the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.

The Rams currently sit fourth in the table, just one point behind the league leaders having only lost once all season.

Their unbeaten streak now stands at eight matches, although Steve McClaren may be slightly concerned that half of them have ended all square.

That was the case in their last outing, when they were held to a disappointing goalless draw against an out-of-form Millwall side at the iPro Stadium.

However, that result did also make it three league clean sheets in a row for the Rams, and only three teams have conceded fewer goals than them in the Championship this season.

Things are improving on the road as well, with victories in their last two away outings having failed to win any of their first three.

McClaren will be without George Thorne for the match due to injury, but he will have been happy to see those involved in international duty over the past week return unscathed.

Reading, meanwhile, have slipped into the bottom half of the table following a run of four matches without a victory, a streak which stretches to five in all competitions.

However, those above them in the table have failed to race clear, so despite their relatively poor league position, they remain just four points off the playoff places.

That gap will surely grow if they don't turn their fortunes around soon, however, and the international break should have allowed Nigel Adkins the chance to regroup following their poor 3-1 defeat at the hands of Brentford last time out.

He will be happy to be back at home as well having only been beaten in front of their own fans once this season, with three of their four wins also coming at the Madejski.

They are in fine goalscoring form at home too, finding the net three times in each of their last three matches in their own backyard.

Jem Karacan and Garath McCleary remain sidelined for the hosts, although Simon Cox could return to the starting lineup.

Recent form

Reading: LDDLLW

Derby: DWWWDW

Possible starting lineups

Reading: Federici; Gunter, Hector, Pearce, Obita; Blackman, Akpan, Norwood, Robson-Kanu; Murray; Cox

Derby: Grant; Christie, Buxton, Keogh, Forsyth; Bryson, Eustace, Hughes; Ward, Martin, Russell

Sports Mole says: 2-2