MX23RW : Friday, March 29 16:02:11| >> :600:97423:97423:
[monks data]
Reading logo
Championship | Gameweek 34
Mar 2, 2021 at 8pm UK
Madejski Stadium
Blackburn logo

Reading
1 - 0
Blackburn

Puscas (24')
Semedo (17')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Bell (52'), Evans (58')

Preview: Reading vs. Blackburn Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Tuesday's Championship clash between Reading and Blackburn Rovers, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Reading play host to Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday evening looking to strengthen their hold of fifth position in the Championship standings.

Meanwhile, Blackburn make the trip to the Madejski Stadium on the back of six matches without success, a run of form which has left the North-West outfit having to consider the possibility of a relegation fight.


Match preview

Reading manager Veljko Paunovic pictured in December 2020© Reuters

On the back of four defeats in five matches, Reading boss Veljko Paunovic would not have relished the trip to face Rotherham United on Saturday afternoon.

However, a narrow victory with a clean sheet has the potential to kickstart a late surge for the top two, even with Brentford now sitting nine points clear of the Royals.

Only leaders Norwich City have shown any consistency of late, and another three points on Tuesday evening would keep Reading in the conversation for automatic promotion.

The negative which will stand out for Paunovic is Lucas Joao going three-and-a-half matches without finding the back of the net, leaving the club's top goalscorer with just three strikes in eight appearances.

Blackburn Rovers manager Tony Mowbray pictured in December 2020© Reuters

At a time when Reading have struggled in the final third, Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray will wonder how his side have failed to win in six matches given the quality of their frontline.

Saturday's 1-1 draw against Coventry City was a step in the right direction after five successive defeats, but it has only left Rovers having to switch their attention to avoiding relegation.

While Ben Brereton netted his second goal in a week, Adam Armstrong went another game without a contribution, the club's leading marksman now having scored just six goals since the beginning of December.

Although Blackburn also have issues in defence, they are unlikely to make quick headway up the table until Armstrong recaptures the form which set him out as the best in the division during the early months of the season.

Reading Championship form: LLWLLW

Blackburn Rovers Championship form: LLLLLD


Team News

Reading's Lucas Joao celebrates scoring against Bristol City in the Championship on February 16, 2021© Reuters

Paunovic may select the same Reading XI which started the game at Rotherham on Saturday.

George Puscas and Sam Baldock are alternatives for Joao if Paunovic decides to hand a rest to his star man.

Tyrhys Dolan will be considered for a start on the right flank for Blackburn with teenager Harvey Elliott having played 90 minutes against Coventry.

Tom Trybull is also in line for a recall in midfield, but the rest of the team could stay the same with Manchester City loanee Taylor Harwood-Bellis remaining among the replacements.

Reading possible starting lineup:
Cabral; Yiadom, Morrison, Moore, Richards; Rinomhota, Laurent; Olise, Semedo, Ejaria; Joao

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:
Kaminski; Nyambe, Lenihan, Branthwaite, Douglas; Evans, Trybull, Rothwell; Dolan, Armstrong, Brereton


SM words green background

We say: Reading 2-1 Blackburn Rovers

Mowbray knows that he has to end the club's current run of form as soon as possible, a scenario which should lead to him naming an attack-minded team. However, Reading are a more well-rounded side, leading us to predict a narrow victory for the hosts.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a double chance bet on a home win or an away win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home/Away:data


ID:437128: cacheID:437128:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:8321:

Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Blackburn Rovers win with a probability of 42.58%. A win for Reading had a probability of 30.13% and a draw had a probability of 27.3%.

The most likely scoreline for a Blackburn Rovers win was 0-1 with a probability of 11.95%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 1-2 (8.61%) and 0-2 (7.98%). The likeliest Reading win was 1-0 (9.64%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (12.88%). The actual scoreline of 1-0 was predicted with a 9.6% likelihood.


Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Coventry City manager Mark Robins pictured in November 2020
Read Next:
Mark Robins claims "outstanding" Coventry deserved to beat Blackburn
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Portsmouth392411463323183
2Derby CountyDerby402461069353478
3Bolton WanderersBolton39228971432874
4Peterborough UnitedPeterborough38218974462871
5Barnsley382011770482271
6Oxford UnitedOxford Utd391891262521063
7Stevenage3917111151401162
8Lincoln CityLincoln3916131056332361
9Blackpool391791357421560
10Leyton Orient391610134444058
11Northampton TownNorthampton40158175160-953
12Wigan AthleticWigan39177155348550
13Wycombe WanderersWycombe381311145049150
14Bristol Rovers38148164857-950
15Exeter CityExeter39138183352-1947
16Charlton AthleticCharlton391015145758-145
17Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury39135212955-2644
18Reading39139175557-242
19Burton Albion39109203151-2039
20Cambridge UnitedCambridge38109193255-2339
21Port Vale3899203661-2536
22Cheltenham TownCheltenham3798203050-2035
23Fleetwood TownFleetwood39713194161-2034
24Carlisle UnitedCarlisle3959253569-3424


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!