Reading host Burton Albion this Saturday at the Madejski Stadium in this weekend’s League One action. Both sides have had a less than stellar start to the season, sitting either in or uncomfortably close to the relegation zone, meaning three points is a must for both sides this weekend.
Reading sit 22nd in League One after eight games. With three wins and five losses, The Royals sit on five points due to their points deduction before the start of the season. This leaves them just a point away from safety.
In their last five games in all competitions, Reading have two wins and three losses. In the Second round of the League Cup Reading faced Ipswich Town. An own goal from Brandon Williams gave Reading the lead within two minutes though Cameron Humphreys and Freddie Ladapo both scored to put Ipswich in the lead. Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan scored in the 87th minute to grab a 2 - 2 draw and send the tie to penalties. Ben Elliot, Caylan Vickers and Charlie Savage all missed to give Ipswich the 3 - 1 win. However, that weekend Fejiri Okenabirhie scored the only goal in the 1 - 0 win for Cambridge. Savage and Vickers both scored in the 2 - 1 win over ten man Bolton who had Eoin Toal sent off late on. In the Football League Trophy Group stage, Reading thrashed Exeter. Tom McIntyre, Elliot, Taylan Harris and Vickers all scored along with braces from Paul Mukairu and Dom Ballard and an own goal from Zak Jules to give Reading the 9 - 0 win.
The last outing for Reading was against Blackpool. An own goal from James Husband put Reading on the scoresheet, but a hat-trick from Jordan Rhodes and a goal from Kylian Kouassi gave Blackpool the 4 - 1 win.
Burton, on the other hand, sit 20th in League One. After their nine games, Burton have just one win, three draws and five losses, which gives them six points so far this season. This also leaves them just one point above the relegation zone.
In their last five games in all competitions, Burton have three wins, one draw and one loss. In the game against Exeter City, Ryan Trevitt scored the only goal in the 1 - 0 win for Exeter as Steve Seddon was sent off in the 94th minute for Burton. The next loss was against fifth-place Barnsley. Devante Cole scored a goal in each half to give Barnsley the 2 - 0 win with Burton only managing one shot on target. Beryly Lubala, Seddon and Kwadwo Baah all scored in the 3 - 2 win over Port Vale who had Ben Garrity and Oliver Arblaster on the scoresheet. Joe Powell opened the scoring for Burton in the 17th minute, but Junior Quitirna immediately equalised just two minutes after. Other than the goal, Burton could only manage one more shot on target as the game finished 1 - 1.
Burton’s last time out was in the Football League Trophy Group stage against Everton’s U21 team. Mason Bennett and Deji Oshilaja both scored in the 2 - 0 win over Everton.
Reading and Burton have met just five times in their histories, with the first meeting coming back in 2009 in the League Cup. The Royals have won on four occasions and Burton have won once, with there yet to be a draw in the fixture.