A pivotal clash in the race for promotion is set to take place at Select Car Leasing Stadium when Reading take on Stockport County on Saturday in League One.
The Royals come into the clash in strong form and are on a four-game unbeaten streak in the league, while the Hatters are without a win in 2025 and may be down on confidence ahead of such an important fixture.
Match preview
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Noel Hunt's Reading are sixth in League One after 24 games, and their 41 points has them in the final playoff spot ahead of Saturday's opponents.
Since Hunt's appointment in early December, the manager has taken charge of seven league matches, overseeing two losses, two draws and three wins to date, including a commanding 4-1 victory over Northampton Town on Boxing Day.
Last time out, the Royals were eliminated from the FA Cup by Championship side Burnley, though they did take the tie to extra-time and only lost to two goals from the 100-minute mark onward.
In the league, Reading have won three and drawn one of their last four games, meaning that they have picked up almost a quarter of their points total for the season since December 26.
It is also notable that Saturday's hosts have scored nine goals in their last four league games, taking them to 39 for the season, a number only bettered by Wycombe Wanderers, league-leaders Birmingham City, and the anomalous Peterborough United across the division.
Such strong form should give the fans and players confidence in their relatively new manager as they look for promotion back to the second tier, and a win over their rivals this weekend will only give them a further boost.
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Meanwhile, Dave Challinor's Stockport are currently three points behind Reading having played a game more than their hosts, and losing against the Royals would severely threaten their dreams of back-to-back promotions.
The 2023-24 League Two champions have fallen back from the type of form that saw them record four wins from five matches between November and early December, and are now winless in their last five games across all competitions.
Their current dry spell includes two draws and three losses, and means that Challinor's side have recorded just two wins since November, a stretch spanning 10 games that features six losses and only two draws.
Most recently, Stockport were narrowly beaten 1-0 in the FA Cup by Crystal Palace, and despite being eliminated, it is commendable that they were even competitive with the Premier League team in that clash.
This weekend, the Hatters will be desperate to avoid defeat at the very least, though an unlikely win would see them leapfrog Reading thanks to their superior goal difference, and would give them a psychological boost as they search for promotion at the first time of asking.
Team News
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Reading have been dealing with a bout of illness in the squad lately, and boss Hunt has said that the staff have been battling to contain it by asking those who are unwell to stay away from the club.
The manager did not name every player impacted, but he did mention that left-back Jeriel Dorsett needed to be checked ahead of this weekend's game, and that right-back Andy Yiadom had been ill for a week.
Yiadom has not featured at all this term, but if Dorsett is absent, expect Abraham Kanu to line up on the left side of the Royals' defence.
Elsewhere, Hunt stated that Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan and Chem Campbell are back training on grass as they continue their recovery from longer-term injuries, while Michael Craig is also working his way back.
As for Stockport, the absence of Louie Barry has certainly been felt after he was recalled by parent club Aston Villa, and boss Challinor has said that Tanto Olaofe will need to get back to his best after returning to the starting lineup against Palace.
The striker, who netted 20 goals last term, is likely to start alongside Kyle Wootton up front, both of whom will be supported by Will Collar from midfield.
Reading possible starting lineup:
Pereira; Mbengue, Dean, Bindon, Kanu; Knibbs, Wing, Savage; Abrefa, Smith, Garcia
Stockport County possible starting lineup:
Hinchcliffe; Connolly, Hughes, Pye; Southam, Collar, Camps, Bailey, Touray; Wootton, Olaofe
We say: Reading 2-1 Stockport County
All of the momentum is with Reading ahead of this crucial clash, but even though both sides are in contrasting form, this match is sure to be a close-fought contest.
The hosts can be expected to extend their impressive unbeaten run in the league to five matches this weekend, and given their impressive goalscoring record, they may even take all three points on Saturday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
