Reading will be looking to bounce back after an FA Cup exit when they host playoff-chasing Watford at the Select Car Leasing Stadium in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.
The Royals lost to Manchester United in football's oldest knockout competition last time out, and will be hoping to earn a maximum against a Hornets side who have won just one of their last four matches.
Match preview
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Reading will be returning to the harsh reality of the Championship life after visiting the Theatre of Dreams in the FA Cup last weekend, a trip which ended in a 3-1 defeat against Erik ten Hag's Red Devils due to a Casemiro brace and a strike from fellow Brazilian Fred.
Remarkably, that scoreline was an improvement on their last second-tier fixture in which they lost 4-0 at Stoke City, a result which shows how Paul Ince's side are susceptible to capitulating in matches, especially away from home.
Amadou Mbengue did manage to net a consolation for the visitors in Manchester last weekend - while Andy Carroll helped to secure Marcel Sabitzer a loan move to United after the 34-year-old injured Christian Eriksen - but the Royals returned to Berkshire with nothing tangible to show for their efforts as focus now turns to the Championship.
The Royals have only one once in 2023 so far and now sit 16th in the second-tier standings - although that victory did come against Saturday's opponents Watford in the FA Cup at the start of January.
Even when Reading were occupying a playoff position earlier in the campaign, manager Ince always insisted his side were still in a relegation battle, and it seems that the 55-year-old knew his men would hit a difficult period in their season, although they still hold an 11-point advantage over Huddersfield Town in 22nd.
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Watford were one of the few Championship clubs in league action last Saturday as FA Cup matters captured most of the attention, yet unfortunately for the Hornets they were unable to add to their points tally while many of their playoff rivals played their fourth-round ties.
Slaven Bilic's men made an unsuccessful trip to the Riverside a week ago, with goals from Chuba Akpom and Marcus Forss handing Middlesbrough a 2-0 victory on Teesside, meaning Watford suffered their first league defeat of 2023.
The Hornets still remain in the top six but missed an opportunity to move into third place, and keen-eyed supporters will have noticed the entirety of the playoff-chasing pack now have at least a game in hand on Bilic's men.
Watford have been proactive in the latter stages of this transfer window, bringing in Wesley Hoedt and Championship veteran Britt Assombalonga to the squad as they look to boost their chances of being involved in the playoffs at the end of the campaign.
Despite possessing a lot of attacking talent within their ranks, Watford have struggled to score on the road so far this season, finding the net just 14 times in 15 Championship away matches.
Team News
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Reading will be without the aforementioned Carroll after he was given his marching orders at Old Trafford last weekend, but Ince has confirmed striker Shane Long will be available to face Watford after the veteran hobbled off with a knee injury against United last time out.
Lucas Joao and Yakou Meite will fight Long for a starting spot in attack for the Royals on Saturday, although 25-year-old Ovie Ejaria is unlikely to feature.
Liam Moore is back in first-team training after his hamstring injury, but Saturday will come too soon for the defender, whereas midfielder Sam Hutchinson is still a month away from returning after an Achilles tendon injury.
Watford have a busy medical room currently, with first-team players such as Dan Gosling (Achilles), Joao Pedro (ankle) and Tom Cleverley (Achilles) sidelined until the end of this month.
Henrique Araujo made his Hornets debut in the defeat at Boro and the 21-year-old could start for the first time this weekend, an inclusion in the XI which would likely see Keinan Davis drop to the bench.
Reading possible starting lineup:
Lumley; Yiadom, Holmes, McIntyre; Hoilett, Ince, Ndiaye, Hendrick, Baba; Joao, Meite
Watford possible starting lineup:
Bachmann; Choudhury, Hoedt, Cathcart; Ferreira, Gaspar, Bacuna, Kamara; Martins, Sarr, Araujo
We say: Reading 0-1 Watford
Reading are in danger of falling into a relegation battle if they do not pick up some Championship wins in the coming weeks, with Ince needing to address their worrying habit of self-destructing in games.
Watford will hope some timely new arrivals can help strengthen their position in the playoffs, and we are backing them to earn all three points in Berkshire on Saturday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Carter White
