Reading and Hull City square off on Saturday afternoon looking for victories which will end their respective poor runs of form in the Championship.
While the teams sit in 16th and 15th spots in the standings, Reading have a points deduction hanging over their heads and are under threat of relegation.
Match preview
© Reuters
Whatever happens this season, Reading have performed above expectations, the Royals at one stage looking like they could challenge for promotion to the Premier League.
However, as well as having a points deduction lingering over their heads, Paul Ince's side have lost four matches in succession, the gap to the relegation zone currently standing at nine points.
If reports are to be believed, that effectively stands at three with a six-point deduction expected, and it heaps the pressure on Reading to deliver three points on Saturday.
Although Reading possess the seventh-best home record in the division, back-to-back 1-0 defeats have been posted versus Sheffield United and Millwall.
The Berkshire outfit also went down 2-1 at Blackburn Rovers in midweek, and Ince will be the first to acknowledge that his players need to bounce back in their next match.
© Reuters
While Hull can claim to have enjoyed a positive second half of the season thus far, the Tigers have prevailed in just one of their last seven fixtures.
A total of six points have been accumulated during that period, the most recent of three defeats coming by a 3-1 scoreline at home to leaders Burnley earlier this week.
Now trailing the top six by 14 points, a late promotion bid is out of the question, leaving Liam Rosenior and his squad to focus on posting the two wins which would realistically guarantee their second-tier status for another 12 months.
Rosenior will demand more than that, however, with Hull having gone five matches on their travels without registering maximum points.
Team News
© Reuters
Reading will be without Mamadou Loum after the midfielder was sent off during the latter stages against Blackburn.
Depending on availability, Tom Ince could switch to a central role with Femi Azeez an option to make just his second start of the season on the right flank.
Andy Yiadom, Scott Dann and Andy Carroll will all be assessed after missing out in midweek through injury, joining a growing list of unavailable players.
Rosenior is likely to make numerous changes to his Hull XI with Greg Docherty, Tufan and Oscar Estupinan all pushing for recalls.
Jacob Greaves and Ryan Longman are also in contention, although Rosenior will want to strike a balance between rotation and continuity.
Reading possible starting lineup:
Lumley; Mbengue, Holmes, Sarr, McIntyre; Hendrick, Casadei; Azeez, Ince, Long; Joao
Hull City possible starting lineup:
Darlow; Coyle, Jones, McLoughlin, Elder; Docherty, Seri, Slater, Sayyadmanesh; Traore, Estupinan
We say: Reading 1-1 Hull City
While Reading have endured dismal streaks already this campaign, this one comes with added pressure. Although they will welcome the return to familiar territory, Ince and his squad may be content with a share of the spoils should it become available to them over the course of the 90 minutes.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Darren Plant
