Fulham welcome third-placed Reading to Craven Cottage in the Championship on Saturday, as Kit Symons and his men go in search of their first win in four matches.
As for Reading, they are unbeaten in five and have claimed important victories over the past two months to move them into promotion contention.
Fulham
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Since producing that memorable victory over Queens Park Rangers back in September, things have failed to really get going for the South London club.
Following on from that home win, Symons and his side have been unable to collect three points from any of their last four fixtures after losing one and drawing three.
Those draws have come in three consecutive games now and while that means that Symons's side find themselves unbeaten, the coach will be wondering what exactly he has to do in order to earn a victory.
The major concern for Fulham in recent weeks has been that they have surrendered points from winning positions on two occasions, having been denied late by a Charlton Athletic fightback, before succumbing to a second-half equaliser at home to Leeds in midweek.
One thing that Symons will want to improve on as the season progresses is his side's defending. As things stand, Fulham have conceded 17 goals already this season at a time when they have been able to amass 18 for themselves.
Fulham will know that if they are to begin to harbour any sort of promotion hopes, they will need to start picking up some points against their fellow hopefuls. Reading are of course one of them, and if they are able to snatch something from Steve Clarke's men, they should go into their coming clashes with Bristol City and Burnley with renewed confidence.
Recent form: LWLDDD
Reading
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In response to September's defeat at home to Derby County, Reading have put together a standout run that has seen them win four out of five games in recent weeks.
Clarke's men won four on the trot by collecting memorable victories over Middlesbrough and Burnley, but their winning run came to an end last weekend when they were held to a frustrating draw away at struggling Rotherham United.
Clarke will be miffed at the fact that Reading had found themselves in a winning position in that encounter, only to fall to a second-half equaliser from Danny Collins.
That said, the Royals still occupy joint-third place in the table and they will know that a victory away at Fulham could conceivably lift them into second spot depending on how other results play out at the weekend.
What has been most impressive about Reading thus far is their combination of attack and defence that has seen Clarke's side produce the best goal difference in the league with a standing of plus 10, as well as producing five clean sheets in 12 fixtures.
The club's form currently has them performing as the third-best side in the form table, and they will be hoping to reassert their desire for automatic promotion with a strong performance on the road on Saturday afternoon.
Recent form: LWWWWD
Team News
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Reading have revealed that they now have long-term injury concerns over both Hal-Robson Kanu and Stephen Quinn.
Despite the draw against Rotherham, Clarke may decide to stick with the same side that earned a point recently.
The Royals have been missing the trio of Jonathan Bond, Anton Ferdinand and Aaron Tshibola, but they could all now be pushing to make Clarke's squad for the weekend.
As for Fulham it is likely that Ross McCormack will continue to develop his partnership with Moussa Dembele, who has been rumoured to be close to agreeing a long-term contract extension with the club.
Fulham possible starting lineup:
Lonergan; Richards, Stearman, Ream, Garbutt; Christensen, Tunnicliffe, O'Hara, Pringle; McCormack, Dembele
Reading possible starting lineup:
Al-Habsi; Gunter, Taylor, McShane, Hector; Norwood, Williams, McCleary, Piazon; Blackman, Sa
Head To Head
The two clubs last met when competing in the Championship during the 2014-15 season, when Fulham came out as 2-1 winners in London. In the reverse of that fixture earlier in the term, Reading claimed a commanding 3-0 victory at the Madejski Stadium. Across their last six fixtures together in the Championship and the Premier League, Fulham have come out slightly on top with three wins, two defeats and one draw.
We say: Fulham 1-2 Reading
Reading come into the game unbeaten in five Championship fixtures and they will be confident of securing a win away from home. Fulham have found it tough to convert draws into three points thus far and they might just come unstuck at home against a side that has its sights firmly set on challenging for a top-two spot.
Christopher Dodd
