Preview: Reading vs. Bournemouth - prediction, team news, lineups

Championship leaders Bournemouth will be targeting their fifth successive win when they travel to Reading on Saturday evening.

The Cherries are five points clear at the top of the table, while the Royals are two points off the playoffs in 13th.

Match preview

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The thought of facing Bournemouth is a scary one for any side right now, with the Cherries in unstoppable form as they seek promotion to the Premier League.

Scott Parker's side are still yet to lose a league game this season, with their 3-0 victory over Huddersfield Town last weekend their eighth win in nine matches. Away from home in 2021-22, Bournemouth have conceded just one goal and have kept six successive clean sheets on the road.

Parker described his team as "relentless" after beating Huddersfield and he may even have one eye on the Championship record points total of 106, which is currently held by their opponents on Saturday.

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It means that victory would taste even sweeter for Reading if they were able to hand the Cherries their first league defeat of the campaign.

After a run of five wins in six matches, the Royals have now lost their last two games but remain in playoff contention – with a possible points deduction still hanging over them.

Veljko Paunovic suggested that his team's 2-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers last weekend could be put down to fatigue, as they struggle with an injury crisis that has left their substitutes bench largely made up of academy players.

Only Cardiff City and Peterborough United have conceded more goals this season than Reading (24), but the Royals have only lost two of their last 14 home games.

The Berkshire outfit's 3-1 victory against Bournemouth in January was their first win over the Cherries in their last nine meetings.

Team News

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Femi Azeez became the latest name to join Reading's lengthy injury list when he was forced off with a hamstring problem against Blackburn.

Tom Holmes and Felipe Araruna stepped up their returns from the sidelines by featuring for the Under-23s on Monday night, with Holmes also on the bench at Ewood Park last weekend.

John Swift's eight goals and six assists this season place him second only to Aleksandar Mitrovic for goal contributions in the Championship.

Scott Parker could name an unchanged side for the third game in a row as Bournemouth look to continue their momentum.

Lewis Cook is set to be in the matchday squad for the first time since March having recovered from a long-term knee injury, but Junior Stanislas has been ruled out with a hamstring issue.

Dominic Solanke boosted his goal tally for the season to 11 with a brace last weekend, but only two of his goals have come away from home.

Reading possible starting lineup:

Southwood; Yiadom, Moore, Dann, Rahman; Drinkwater, Laurent; Dele-Bashiru, Swift, Ejaria; Puscas

Bournemouth possible starting lineup:

Travers; Stacey, Cahill, Kelly, Zemura; Lerma, Kilkenny, Billing; Christie, Solanke, Anthony

We say: Reading 0-1 Bournemouth

Bournemouth will be strong favourites to continue their unbeaten start to the campaign, particularly with Reading struggling with a host of injuries that has left their side fatigued. All of the Cherries' away games this season have been tight affairs though and this one should be the same.