Reading will be aiming to stretch their unbeaten run of form in all competitions to six matches when they welcome Cambridge United to the Madejski Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Royals are currently seventh in the League One table, level on points with sixth-placed Barnsley, while Cambridge sit 22nd, having only picked up 13 points from their opening 16 matches of the 2024-25 campaign.
Match preview
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Reading boast a record of eight wins, three draws and five defeats from their 16 League One matches this season, which has left them in seventh spot in the table, level on points with sixth-placed Barnsley.
The Royals have been a good watch in the third tier this term, scoring 26 times and conceding 24, and they were also involved in a five-goal thriller in the FA Cup on Sunday, beating Harborough Town 5-3 after extra time.
Unsurprisingly, there were wholesale changes from head coach Ruben Selles for the FA Cup fixture, with the team back in League One action on Tuesday night, and they needed extra time to beat their non-league opponents, with Chem Campbell hitting a brace early in the additional time.
Reading drew 2-2 with Barnsley in the league last time out, and they are unbeaten in their last five matches in all competitions, including their last three in the league.
Selles's side are currently preparing for back-to-back League One fixtures against Cambridge and Wycombe Wanderers, before switching their attention to the EFL Trophy, tackling Walsall in the second round of the competition on December 10.
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Cambridge, meanwhile, will enter the match off the back of a 2-1 home defeat to Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup, with that fixture also heading into extra time.
Garry Monk's side have drawn their last three in the league against Barnsley, Northampton Town and Bolton Wanderers, with their last success in the third tier coming at home to Burton Albion at the end of October.
The visitors actually won five straight matches in all competitions between October 19 and November 5, but they have lost two and drawn three of their last five and will therefore be bidding to return to winning ways here.
Cambridge are currently 22nd in the League One table, having picked up just 13 points from their opening 16 matches of the season, but they are only three points off 20th-placed Crawley Town with a game in hand.
Reading recorded a 4-0 victory when the two teams last locked horns in March of this year, but Cambridge have won two of the last three meetings between the two sides.
Team News
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As mentioned, Reading head coach Selles made wholesale changes against Harborough United in the FA Cup, but there will be a more familiar look to their XI for the clash with Cambridge.
Sam Smith has been in impressive form this season, scoring seven times in 14 appearances, and the 26-year-old will again feature in the final third of the field for the Royals.
Harvey Knibbs has six goals and two assists for Reading this term, meanwhile, and he will be another starter here; Charlie Savage is also available and is set to be given the nod in the middle of midfield.
As for Cambridge, head coach Monk will also make a number of changes to the side that started against Wigan in the FA Cup.
Brandon Njoku is only on two goals for the season but is set to continue in the final third of the field, while there should also be a start for Ryan Loft.
No Cambridge player has scored more than three times this season; one of those is Sullay Kaikai, and the 29-year-old should be another starter for the visitors in Tuesday night's affair.
Reading possible starting lineup:
Pereira; Craig, Holzman, Bindon, Dorsett; Elliott, Wing, Savage; Campbell, Smith, Knibbs
Cambridge United possible starting lineup:
Reyes; Okedina, Morrison, Andrew; Bennett, Cousins, Smith, Brophy; Kaikai, Loft, Njoku
We say: Reading 2-0 Cambridge United
Reading have been impressive at home this season, winning six of their seven league games in front of their own fans, while Cambridge have the second-worst away record in League One in 2024-25, and we are fully expecting the Royals to triumph here.
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