Preview: Reading vs. Stoke City - prediction, team news, lineups

Championship leaders Reading welcome Stoke City to the Madejski Stadium on Saturday afternoon having suffered back-to-back defeats.

Meanwhile, the Potters head into the fixture with the Royals sitting in 11th position after losing two of their last three games.

Match preview

Ahead of meetings with Coventry City and Preston North End, Reading boss Veljko Paunovic would have had high hopes of his side making it eight victories from nine matches this season.

Such a return would have left the Royals nine points clear at the top of the standings, but two defeats and conceding six goals have put a different complexion on matters.

Although Reading still sit three points clear of the chasing pack, losing out 3-0 at home to Preston means that Paunovics's squad have lost all momentum heading into their next fixture.

With two thirds of the goals which they have conceded this season coming in the most recent double-header, Paunovic must now decide whether to place less emphasis on an attack which has the best record in the division.

While there is an argument that the international break is coming at the right time, a third successive setback would leave a negative feeling around the club ahead of the trip to promotion rivals Bournemouth on November 21.

As far as Stoke are concerned, it has been a case of one step forward and one step back in recent weeks after failing to build on their recent victories.

Despite recording 10 points from their last half-a-dozen encounters, Michael O'Neill's team have failed to register back-to-back wins, leaving the club back down in mid-table.

O'Neill felt that decisions from the officials contributed to their 3-2 reverse at Watford earlier this week, although the game continued a trend of his defence looking far less resolute than they were during the opening weeks of the season.

Stoke remain just seven points adrift of their next opponents, providing them with the opportunity to move to within touching distance of top spot before the international break.

Reading Championship form: DWWWLL

Stoke City Championship form: WDWLWL

Team News

O'Neill may revert back to his previous 3-4-3 formation after Stoke's setback at Vicarage Road.

The Northern Irishman would theoretically be able to select the same 11 players, although Josh Tymon is an alternative at left wing-back.

Reading manager Paunovic is expected to hand a recall to Andy Yiadom, a move which would lead to Tomas Esteves dropping down to the substitutes' bench.

Liam Moore, Ovie Ejaria and Yakou Meite are all in line to return to the squad after missing the last fixture through injury.

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

Stoke City possible starting lineup: Gunn; Batth, Souttar, Fox; Smith, Mikel, Thompson, McClean; Powell; Campbell, Fletcher

We say: Reading 1-2 Stoke City

With Reading now looking fragile in defence, a fixture with a physical Stoke side is far from ideal. Although the home side can only improve after Wednesday's defeat to Preston, we expect the visitors to battle their way to the three points.

Top betting tip

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