Reading and Cambridge battle it out at the bottom end of League One this Saturday afternoon with the Royals gradually creeping further and further away from the bottom three right now after a torrid start to the season.
A poor run of form coupled with their points deduction saw Reading staring in the face of a long season fighting for survival. While this is still the case and likely to be on the cards for most of the campaign still, there are only eight more games to play and a current gap of six points on Fleetwood Town in 22nd place.
Reading have won 12 games this League One season, but consecutive defeats in the past seven days has now seen them lose 17 times too. Last weekend, the club were beaten by Wycombe Wanderers away from home before then suffering another defeat during the week against Derby County. Sam Smith scored that day for Reading, but Andy Yiadom was sent off minutes late, and he is now suspended for this match.
Reading's last victory came two weeks ago when they defeated Carlisle United with Sam Smith netting once more before Harvey Knibbs scored twice. Reading also had eight shots on target that day from 11 efforts in total.
As for Cambridge, they are closer to relegation than ever before after stretching their winless run to six games with a stunning 6-0 battering away to Lincoln City on Tuesday. Other results during this winless period has seen the club draw with Northampton Town last weekend, but every other game has ended in a defeat with Bolton Wanderers beating them twice alongside losses to Peterborough United and Stevenage.
Cambridge - just like Reading - last tasted a victory by beating Carlisle United 4-0. Elias Kachunga got back amongst the goals that day alongside Sullay Kaikai and Ryan Bennett.
