Preview: Reading vs. Nottingham Forest - prediction, team news, lineups

Reading will welcome supporters to the Madejski Stadium for the first time since March when they host Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

The Royals, who drew 1-1 against Sheffield Wednesday in midweek, are one of just nine Championship clubs in tier two, which will allow 2,000 fans to attend.

Match preview

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Reading missed the chance to go top of the table at Hillsborough, playing against an Owls side who only had 10 men for the final hour after Liam Shaw 's red card.

Lucas Joao provided the Royals equaliser after Callum Paterson had put the hosts ahead, but Veljko Paunovic 's team could not find a winning goal and had several penalty appeals waved away in the second half.

They are though just a point behind league leaders Norwich City, which is not a bad place to be considering that a fortnight ago the Royals were in the middle of a four-game losing run.

They are searching for their first clean sheet in nine matches, but only Watford have won more home games in the Championship than the Berkshire side this season.

Nottingham Forest have not won on any of their last five trips to the Madejski Stadium and have one of the worst away records in the division this season.

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The Reds have just four points from seven games on the road - only Coventry City have fewer - and have netted just twice.

However they earned a respectable point in a 0-0 draw at home to high-flying Watford in midweek, ending a three-game losing streak in the process.

Chris Hughton will have been encouraged by his team's performance, as they had the better of the chances across the 90 minutes and kept the Hornets' talented attack at bay.

Nonetheless, the former Brighton and Hove Albion boss still has plenty of work to do as he attempts to turn Forest's season around as they are still just one place and three points above the relegation zone.

The two games between Reading and Forest last season were played within 11 days of each other in January and both finished 1-1.

Reading Championship form: LLLDWD

Nottingham Forest Championship form: WWLLLD

Team News

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Veljko Paunovic has said that he hopes to have Yakou Meite back available for the game after the Frenchman missed the trip to Sheffield Wednesday with a knock.

Meite could replace Alfa Semedo in the starting lineup to allow Reading to go with the same team that beat Bristol City so impressively last weekend.

The Royals have limited options to call upon from the bench, with John Swift and George Puscas currently out injured.

Scott McKenna missed Forest's stalemate with Watford with an ankle problem, but is expected to be back available.

However McKenna's replacement on Wednesday night, Joe Worrall, put in an excellent performance and could keep the Scottish international out of the team.

Tyler Blackett, Samba Sow and Lewis Grabban are all back in training after time on the sidelines, but it has been confirmed that Jack Colback 's ankle injury will rule him out for a number of weeks.

Reading possible starting lineup:

Rafael; Holmes, Morrison, Moore, Richards; Rinomhota, Laurent; Meite, Olise, Ejaria; Joao

Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:

Samba; Christie, Worrall, Figueiredo, Ribeiro; Yates, Cafu; Knockaert, Arter, Lolley; Taylor

We say: Reading 1-0 Nottingham Forest

Reading were unfortunate not to win in midweek so will be aiming to ensure they get three points this time around, particularly in front of their returning supporters. Add into the equation Forest's dismal away record, and most of the signs point towards a Royals a victory.

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