Preview: Cheltenham Town vs. Reading - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors will enter the contest off the back of a 2-2 draw with Peterborough United, while Cheltenham recorded a 2-0 victory over Shrewsbury Town last time out.

Match preview

Confidence will be high in the Cheltenham camp heading into their final match of 2023, with the team managing to record back-to-back wins over Carlisle United and Shrewsbury.

The successes have moved the team off the bottom of the table and into 22nd, while they are now just three points behind 20th-placed Exeter City heading into the clash with Reading.

Darrell Clarke's side have had a tough campaign to date, only managing five wins from their 22 matches, while they are the second-lowest goalscorers in the league with 15, which has been a huge part of their problem.

The successive victories on December 23 and December 26 have allowed the team to move off the foot of the division, and the supporters will certainly be feeling a lot better about the situation heading into 2024.

Cheltenham will have home advantage on Friday, but they have lost four of their last five matches against Reading, including a 1-0 defeat in the reverse match between the two sides earlier this season.

Reading, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 2-2 draw with Peterborough on Boxing Day, which stretched their unbeaten run to four matches, but three of those games have finished in draws.

The Royals twice fell behind against Peterborough on Tuesday, but they answered back on both occasions, with an 85th-minute goal from Femi Azeez securing a share of the spoils.

Reading were relegated from the Championship last season, but they have found it difficult at this level, only picking up 19 points from their 23 matches, which has left them in 21st position in the table.

Ruben Selles's side won six, drawn five and lost 12 of their 23 games, but they are only three points behind 20th-placed Exeter, and it would be a real shock to see them relegated to League Two.

Reading and Cheltenham will enter this match on level points, but the home side have a game in hand, so a victory in Friday's contest would be huge, while there will be pressure on Selles to deliver a result, with the head coach's position being called into question amid the team's struggles.

Cheltenham Town League One form:

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Reading League One form:

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Reading form (all competitions):

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Team News

Cheltenham head coach Clarke is unlikely to make many changes to the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Shrewsbury on Boxing Day.

George Lloyd scored twice in the victory and will continue in the final third of the field, while there should also be a position at centre-forward for Robert Street.

Benjamin Williams was introduced at the interval of the contest with Shrewsbury, and he could now come into the side, while Thomas Pett is also pushing to come into the XI.

As for Reading, head coach Selles has a decision to make at centre-forward, as Sam Smith netted off the bench against Peterborough, and the 25-year-old could now come in for a start.

Smith has seven goals this season, while Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan, who has eight goals to his name during the 2023-24 campaign, may drop to the bench.

Harvey Knibbs is the team's leading goalscorer this term with 10, and the 24-year-old will again feature in the starting side, while Azeez is another certain starter for the strugglers.

Cheltenham Town possible starting lineup:

Southwood; Smith, Bradbury, Freestone; Long, Sercombe, Thompson, Bonds, Williams; Lloyd, Street

Reading possible starting lineup:

Button; Mbengue, Holmes, Abbey, Dorsett; Azeez, Wing, Craig, Knibbs, Mukairu; Smith

We say: Cheltenham Town 1-2 Reading

Reading have the worst away record in League One this season, collecting just five points from 11 matches, but we are expecting them to pick up all three points here despite Cheltenham's recent improvement.

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