Reading - Blackburn

Reading continue to edge towards Championship safety after securing two successive 1-1 draws against Cardiff and Blackpool. The Royals have not won a league match since securing their FA Cup semi-final berth at Wembley when beating Bradford 3-0 and they were perhaps slightly fortunate to claim a point at Bloomfield Road when equalising via an own goal within 20 seconds of the restart. However, manager Steve Clarke will be content with his team extending their unbeaten home sequence to four games. Blackburn will travel to Reading hoping to extend a sequence of six matches unbeaten on their travels with just three goals conceded during those games. Rovers registered victories in their previous two away games and netted three times in both contests although their 3-0 victory at Leeds owed much to the home players being affected by off-field events at Elland Road. However, Blackburn manager Gary Bowyer is currently dealing with several injuries within his first team squad plus any fatigue resulting from a 1-0 FA Cup defeat by Liverpool on Wednesday.