TRICKY TEST AWAITS ROYALS AS THEY HELD TO SHEFFIELD – WILL THEY SHOW SOME STEEL?

READING FC face a tricky away test against play-off pushing Sheffield United on Good Friday.

The Royals’ strong recent run of form has seen them increase the gap between them and the relegation places to snatch much hope of the teams below them being able to catch them with only a small period of the season remaining.

Reading went four games unbeaten, with draws against Bournemouth and Barnsley as well as home wins over Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City seeing them inch ever closer towards Championship safety.

However, Paul Ince’s team will be in for a tough encounter against another side that is desperate for points when they travel to Bramall Lane as they prepare for two

Championship games in the space of four days.

The Blades have recovered their season and looking to make a swift return to the top flight having been relegated from the Premier League last season.

Having had the stability of being under the helm of Chris Wilder for several seasons, he was sacked and replaced at the start of the season by Slavisa Jokanaovic, who had previously been promoted with Fulham.

However, it appeared to be an unsuitable match for both parties as United endured a dreadful start to life back in the Championship.

With the club in a disappointing 16th position in the Championship having been expected to challenge for promotion, Jokanovic was sacked in November and replaced by Paul Heckingbottom.

It has proved to be an inspired change as Heckingbottom has helped to drag the Blades up the table where they are now challenging for a play-off spot.

After 40 matches, Sheffield United sit in fifth position in the table after former Reading player Oliver Norwood scored the winning goal in their midweek match at home to Queens Park Rangers.

The Blades have been in fine form at home this campaign and are unbeaten in their last 10 matches at Bramall Lane, a run that stretches back to October when they were beaten 1-0 by Blackpool.

Stalwart striker, and former Royals loanee Billy Sharp tops the goalscoring charts for United this campaign with 14 goals and seven assists from 38 Championship matches.

Wolves loanee Morgan GibbsWhite has also impressed with nine goals and seven assists to his name from 29 games.

On their visit to the Select Car Leasing Stadium earlier in the season, Sheffield United went home with all three points.

The match was unfortunately overshadowed by an injury to Blades midfielder John Fleck after he collapsed on the field and received extensive medical attention. Jayden Bogle scored the only goal of the game which came in the 57th minute to give United an away victory.

Reading have an awful recent record against Friday’s opponents and have lost the last six fixtures against the Blades.