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

The Sky Blues earned a share of the spoils with Blackburn Rovers in remarkable fashion last time out, while Reading picked up a respectable point against Luton Town.

Match preview

After Sam Gallagher's first-half strike at Ewood Park on Wednesday night, it looked certain that Coventry would be handed a massive blow to their top-six aims against Jon Dahl Tomasson's Blackburn.

Despite the game looking lost, Sky Blues keeper Ben Wilson sent the visiting supporters into delirium after he netted an equaliser from a 95th-minute Gustavo Hamer corner - the unpredictable nature of the Championship at its brilliant best.

Mark Robins's men moved up to eighth in the second-tier standings after that sensational ending in Lancashire, now just one point behind sixth-placed Blackburn - albeit both Rovers and seventh-placed West Bromwich Albion have played a game fewer.

Coventry now return to the CBS Arena to face a Reading side in the midst of a relegation battle, with the West Midlands outfit last tasting success on home soil way back in February against Sunderland.

The Sky Blues will be relying on the goalscoring prowess of Viktor Gyokeres this weekend - the Swede is only behind Middlesbrough's Chuba Akpom in the Championship Golden Boot race.

Reading have recorded back-to-back draws at their Berkshire home over the past week following the departure of Paul Ince, with the Royals managing to earn results against both Luton and Vincent Kompany's impressive Burnley side.

Noel Hunt will be pleased with the attitude of his men in those pair of matches, but the 40-year-old will realise only precious maximums will give his side a chance of retaining their second-tier status for next term.

Following their six-point deduction after the club breached a business plan proposed by the EFL, Reading sit 22nd in the Championship standings, a point away from safety with just three matches left to play.

There is a stark contrast between the home and away form of the Royals this season, with only six of their 43 second-tier points coming away from the Select Car Leasing Stadium - the Royals' last success on the road came all the way back in November.

Despite most pundits predicting Reading to tussle with relegation this season, the manner in which the Royals have been dragged into the fight has been rather depressing for supporters, although matches against Wigan Athletic and Huddersfield Town in their last two offer a real opportunity to avoid the drop.

Coventry City Championship form:

W

L

D

D

W

D

Reading Championship form:

D

D

D

L

D

D

Team News

Coventry could be without influential midfielder Ben Sheaf this weekend after the 25-year-old was forced off at Ewood Park with a calf tear - Sheaf has only recently returned from a similar issue which kept him sidelined for seven matches.

Better news for the Sky Blues comes in the form of Jamie Allen, with the midfielder in contention to return to first-team action on Saturday following a short spell out due to an ankle injury.

Reading will miss the presence of striker Andy Carroll at the CBS Arena after his red card against Luton last time out - Mamadi Camara could be handed his first Championship start alongside Lucas Joao as a result.

The Royals have a host of key players sidelined for the remainder of the campaign, with Dejan Tetek (leg), Liam Moore (foot) and Tom McIntyre (hamstring) all expected back ahead of next season.

Coventry City possible starting lineup:

Wilson; McNally, McFadzean, Doyle; Norton-Cuffy, Kelly, Eccles, Hamer, Wilson-Esbrand; Gyokeres, Godden

Reading possible starting lineup:

Lumley; Yiadom, Holmes, Sarr, Guinness-Walker; Azeez, Hendrick, Casadei, Fornah; Joao, Camara

We say: Coventry City 2-0 Reading

Coventry will be buoyed following their dramatic equaliser at Blackburn on Wednesday, and Robins's men can bring that momentum into a home tie with a struggling Reading outfit.

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