PREVIEW: ROYALS HOST PLAY-OFF CHALLENGERS

READING will be keen to stretch the gap between them and play-off hopefuls Midesbrough when they host them at the Madjeski this Saturday.

Veljko Paunović’s side got back on trackwith an awaywin at Bristol City on Tuesday evening, while

Boro also took three points as they defeated Huddersfield Town 2-1.

They ended a run of four games without awin to put them back in the hunt for the play-off places where they cut the gap to sixthplaced Bournemouth to just three points before the Cherries’ Wednesday night fixture against Rotherham.

NeilWarnock’s team are making a push for the play-offs and are currently in eighth position in the Championship, eight points behind Reading in fifth.

It was a drab affairwhen the sides met earlier in the season at the Riverside in October.

The Royals produced the only shot on target in thewhole match as it ended goalless.

Prior to the drawearlier in the campaign, Reading had beaten Boro in the last seven meetings and are on a run of eight gameswithout defeat against Saturday’s opponents.

Boro’s success has largely been built on having a relatively tight defencewhich has seen them keep 10 clean sheets from their 30 games this season, seeing them concede just 31 goals.

Paunović is hoping to have Josh Laurent back available for selection after he missed Tuesday’swin at Bristol.

“Josh got a couple of knocks in the last fewgames,” said Paunović.

“Hewas carrying them through the matcheswe played so the assessment from the medical staff waswewill be risking too much so we decided to rest him.

“Hopefully he can recover and be ready for the next game.”

The Royals are then in midweek action once againwhen they face bottom of the tableWycombe Wanderers at Adams Park on Tuesday evening.

Gareth Ainsworth’s side have given a good account of themselves since defying the odds towin promotion to the Championship, but sit at the foot of the table after 22 defeats from their 29 fixtures this season.

Despite this, Reading knowthat theywill be in for a tough battle having fought for a hard-earned three pointswhen they played the Chairboys at the Madejski in October.

Lucas João scored the only goal of the game, just after the hour mark to separate the sides.

Ainsworth’s sidewill need to start racking up the points quickly if they are to survive the drop, with a 10 point gap currently between them and the relegation places after a last-gasp defeat at home to Derby County on Tuesday night.