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

The Royals also came away empty-handed from their last fixture and need to address a worrying run of three games without a victory.

Match preview

Russell Martin's men were blown away by league leaders Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday, with the Swans conceding three first-half goals that put the game beyond them.

Before that disappointing 4-0 loss last time out, Swansea had strung four consecutive wins together, scoring an impressive 10 goals in the quartet of second-tier clashes.

The Welsh side have climbed the Championship table after a stuttering start to their campaign and have only lost to early pace-setters Sheffield United and the aforementioned Burnley in their last eight fixtures.

Despite this, Swansea have not exactly made the Liberty Stadium a fortress at the start of this term, having already lost three times on home soil, the type of form that will need to change if they are to mount a serious promotion charge.

Reading are showing signs of decline after a flying start under Paul Ince, with the Royals losing their last two games to Queens Park Rangers and West Bromwich Albion.

The Berkshire club were inside the playoffs just over a week ago, with boss Ince having to insist his side were still in a relegation battle despite their lofty league position.

Those claims are clearly an attempt to keep expectations low at a club that are struggling financially and lost key players such as John Swift in the summer, but a survival scrap could soon become a reality with still over 30 games to play.

A player that will be key to maintaining Reading's Championship status this season is Portuguese forward Lucas Joao, who has in recent games formed a towering partnership with ex-Liverpool and Newcastle United target man Andy Carroll.

The Royals will have to find their shooting boots at the Liberty Stadium, something they have struggled with on the road so far, having only managed three goals in six outings away from the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

Swansea City Championship form:

L

W

W

W

W

L

Reading Championship form:

L

W

W

D

L

L

Team News

Talisman Joel Piroe was sent off for a stamp on Burnley's Josh Cullen on Saturday and is suspended for the visit of Reading.

The only other absentee for Swansea will be midfielder Liam Walsh, who is still recovering from rupturing his Achilles and the subsequent surgery in July.

Reading remain without 33-year-old defender Sam Hutchinson after he sustained a hamstring injury in the defeat at Loftus Road over a week ago.

It is expected the former Sheffield Wednesday man will be out for at least a couple of weeks, with right-back Andy Yiadom tasked with replacing Hutchinson in the back three.

Fellow centre-backs Liam Moore and Scott Dann are expected to be out until December and January respectively but Ince seems set to stick with a 5-3-2 system which sees many of his players operating out of their natural positions.

Swansea City possible starting lineup:

Benda; Darling, Naughton, Cabango; Latibeaudiere, Fulton, Grimes, Sorinola; Cooper, Ntchman, Obafemi

Reading possible starting lineup:

Bouzanis; Yiadom, Holmes, McIntyre; Hoilett, Fornah, Ince, Henrick, Guiness-Walker; Joao, Long

We say: Swansea City 1-0 Reading

After a heavy defeat at Burnley on Saturday, Swansea will be desperate to get back on track against Reading at the Liberty Stadium.

Previews by email