ROYALS HOST WANDERERS IN LOCAL CLASH
READING FC will host Wycombe Wanderers this Saturday as the Royals’ battle for survival in League One continues.
Entering a crucial chapter in the season, Ruben Selles’ side have been in fine form but continue to be plagued by financial problems which has resulted in points deductions.
The club was deducted two more points last week, with two more suspended, which took their season total to six points lost.
That means that there are two points separating the teams heading into Saturday’s fixture, with Wycombe in 15th on 41 points and Reading in 17th on 39 points.
But with the possibility of more points deductions on the horizon, the Royals will be desperate to collect as many points as possible to ease their relegation fears.
Reading are currently five points above the relegation zone after 21st placed Cheltenham Town suffered a defeat at home to Charlton Athletic on Tuesday.
The Chairboys have been in relatively poor form, but did manage to earn a crucial win at the end of February against relegation threatened Cheltenham to boost their position.
Matt Blomfield’s team were then defeated at home to promotion hopefuls Barnsley on Saturday.
Wycombe had led the Tykes twice, but the visitors managed to turn the game around at Adams PArk to secure all three points with a 4-2 win.
In the reverse fixture in November, Reading earned three points on the road in a game that saw them break a run of
378 away league matches without a victory.
Sam Smith netted the opener in the 30th minute before Wycombe produced a quick reply from Killian Phillips.
But it was former Wycombe man Lewis Wing who netted the decisive goal for the Royals to end their miserable run on the road with a 2-1 success in Buckinghamshire.
Wycombe’s top scorer so far this campaign is Luke Leahy who has eight goals and six assists to his name.
Reading’s most prolific scorer in the league is Harvey Knibbs who collected two more goals in the win at Carlisle United to take his league tally into double figures, as well as six assists for the season.
Reading are likely to still be without defender Jeriel Dorsett despite him being close to making a return from injury, while Tom Holmes has faced a recent setback and is expected to be out for at least a few more weeks.
Predicted Reading line-up: