Preview: Reading vs. Bristol Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups

Both sides booked their place in the FA Cup second round over the weekend, claiming potentially morale-boosting wins following difficult starts to their respective league campaigns.

Match preview

Reading boss Ruben Selles will hope his side can transform some of their excellent cup form from this season into results in the league.

The Royals recorded yet another win in a cup competition over the weekend, seeing off MK Dons 3-2 in the FA Cup first round.

Earlier in the season, Reading stormed through their first round EFL Cup tie too, thrashing Championship Millwall 4-0 at the Den.

While then going out to promotion favourites Ipswich Town on penalties, the EFL Trophy has provided another route for Reading to rack up the goals.

An astonishing 9-0 win away at Exeter City was followed up by a convincing 5-0 home win over Swindon Town, booking their place in the knockout stage.

It is a much different story in the league though, as Selles has seen his side lose five in a row, sending them to the foot of the table.

A four-point deduction has not helped, but even without that, Reading would still be 23rd.

Back-to-back relegations currently looks on the cards, as the London club are eight points adrift of safety, making this game in hand very important if Reading want to start eating up the ground on those above them.

Bristol Rovers are faring better, but are in a strange position, as they are a comfortable distance clear of the drop zone, while also being a long way off the playoffs places, despite only having played 14 games.

Rovers are not pulling up any trees down in 15th, but caretaker boss Andy Mangan is currently two from two after taking over from Joey Barton, who was dismissed following a draw with Stevenage two weeks ago.

Bringing more consistency will be on the agenda for whoever comes through the door as Barton's replacement, as Rovers' last seven league games have produced three wins and three defeats.

Mangan will seek to eradicate that inconsistency so it does not cost the side in what will be a rare occasion where Bristol Rovers come into a League One away game as the favourites.

The Rovers faithful will hope a 7-2 win over Whitby in the FA Cup at the weekend will bring plenty of confidence to their attacking players, before facing one of the league's most out-of-form sides.

Reading League One form:

D

L

L

L

L

L

Reading form (all competitions):

L

W

L

L

L

W

Bristol Rovers League One form:

L

W

L

L

D

W

Bristol Rovers form (all competitions):

W

L

L

D

W

W

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Team News

Reading are set to be without the injured trio of Coniah Boyce-Clarke, Tom McIntyre and Ovie Ejaria once again for this encounter.

Amadou Salif Mbengue is out through suspension after his late red card against Portsmouth in their last league outing and will miss another two matches.

Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan will hope to keep his place in the side after scoring in the weekend win over MK Dons, but faces competition from Harvey Knibbs and Femi Azeez for a starting spot.

Mangan made a few changes to his Bristol Rovers side, but still went relatively strong for their cup clash at the weekend.

James Gibbons and Lewis Gordon came in at full-back, but it is likely that George Friend and Josh Grant will come back in.

Scott Sinclair was also given a rare start on the wing, while Anthony Evans impressed again, scoring for a third straight game.

Luke Thomas made his first start in a month and scored against Whitby and could be in line for another start.

Reading possible starting lineup:

Button; Yiadom, Dean, Bindon, Guinness-Walker; Wing, Craig, Savage; Azeez, Smith, Knibbs

Bristol Rovers possible starting lineup:

Cox; Grant, Taylor, Crama, Friend; Brown, Thomas, Evans, Vale; Martin, Collins

We say: Reading 1-1 Bristol Rovers

With two struggling sides going head-to-head, wins for both over the weekend could bring the confidence they need to pick up some much-needed points.

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