Friendly against Arsenal will take place behind closed doors

READING are still seeking to put an end to their dreadful run of form when they face Bristol

City.

The Royals have a break from action this weekend after being knocked out of the FA Cup in the third-round by non-league Kidderminster Harriers.

In the absence of Championship action, Reading are set to face Arsenal in a behind closed doors friendly match.

Veljko Paunovic’s team return to the road in the Championship on Wednesday, February 9, away at Bristol.

Bristol go into the match in 16th position, five places and a sizeable 12 points above Reading.

Nigel Pearson’s side are in a mixed run of form with two wins, two defeats a draw from their last five league matches.

In similar style to Reading, Bristol were also victims of a thumping at the hands of league leaders Fulham earlier in the month when they lost 6-2 at Craven Cottage just days after the Whites mauled the Royals 7-0 at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

The Robins were moments away from claiming an away victory at Preston North End at the weekend, but were denied deep into stoppage time.

Chris Martin put Bristol ahead before Emil Riis Jakobsen levelled for the hosts.

Bristol thought they had stolen the points with Antoine Semenyo’s 81st minute strike, but Jakobsen snatched a last gasp equaliser for Preston.

When the teams met earlier in the campaign in August, Bristol took the spoils with victory in a five-goal game.

Bristol raced into a two-goal lead when Andreas Weimann and Martin netted.

The Royals hit back through Femi Azeez but Weimann notched again and left with the win despite Liam Moore’s 81st minute goal.

Weimann is in fine form this season and has 14 goals and five assists to his name, which puts him fourth in the goalscoring charts.

On their last trip to Ashton Gate in February 2021, Paunovic’s men came away with the points after goals from Lucas Joao and Michael Morrison.