Oxford United will be looking to bounce back from a heavy defeat at Peterborough when the U’s travel to rivals, Reading.
Des Buckingham’s side lost 3-0 at London Road and the search for a first league win, and goal, under the new head coach goes on.
Reading lost 3-1 at home against Barnsley last time out but beat Carlisle 5-1 in the previous fixture – a result which followed a victory on the road at Wycombe. However, prior to those results, the Royals had failed to win in eight league games, losing seven.
Oxford are still without several key players through injury, including Greg Leigh, Marcus Browne and Kyle Edwards. Ruben Rodrigues was also replaced at London Road.
Reading are without Tom McIntyre, Jeriel Dorsett and second top scorer, Dan Ballard.
Harvey Knibbs has eight goals for the Royals, while Ballard has five. They also have a handful of players with four and three goals respectively.
This is a first meeting between the two sides since 2004 when Reading won 2-0 in the League Cup. The two sides also met the season before in the same competition with the Royals also victorious on that occasion. This will be a first league meeting since the 2000/01 season, when Reading did the double over the U’s.
Predicted line-up: James Beadle, Ciaron Brown, Jordan Thorniley, Elliott Moore, Fin Stevens, Marcus McGuane, Cameron Brannagan, Billy Bodin, Tyler Goodrham, Stanley Mills, Mark Harris.
Prediction: Reading 0-2 Oxford United
