READING will be seeking to make it three wins on the bounce on their Friday night trip to Birmingham City.
The Royals ensured they returned from the World Cup break in style by beating Coventry City at home on Saturday having beaten Hull City away prior to the four week hiatus.
Reading’s win via Amadou Mbengue’s goal saw them move up to eighth in the Championship table, while Birmingham are in 14th position.
After 22 matches each, the Blues are on 29 points while Reading are on 32 in a tightly congested table.
Birmingham (23) have scored one less goal than Reading this season, but have a better defensive record and have conceded 10 less goals than the Royals.
John Eustace’s team have the third best defensive record in the entire division and have managed to keep eight clean sheets.
Esuatce took over as Blues boss in July 2022 after Lee Bowyer departed the club having previously managed Kidderminster Harriers and been assistant of Queens Park Rangers and the Republic of Ireland.
Birmingham picked up a point on their travels to Blackpool at the weekend in a goalless draw.
Birmingham striker Scott Hogan is currently the joint top scorer in the league, along with 10 other players on nine goals.
Reading have won their last two meetings with Birmingham which both came last season.
The Royals won 2-1 on both occasions in the 2021/22 campaign. When the teams met in February, Reading collected three points after goals from Lucas Joao and John Swift.
Meanwhile, on their last visit to St Andrews, it was a breakthrough match for young striker Jahmari Clarke.
He made a heroic appearance off the bench with two late goals to five Reading three points on the road.
However, Clarke has struggled for first-team minutes since and has most recently been on loan at Woking, where he scored once in two appearances.
