READING FC are still on the hunt for their first points of the season as they prepare to host Cheltenham Town in League One on Tuesday night.
The Royals were unable to build on the confidence of their exceptional 4-0 away win at Championship side Millwall in the EFL Cup as they suffered a disheartening defeat at Port Vale on Saturday.
Reading managed just one shot on target, which was a saved Andy Carroll penalty, in a dismal away display as they started their league campaign with back-to-back defeats.
However, it has been a similar tale for Tuesday’s opponents who are also yet to pick up a point from their opening two matches.
The Robins lost 109 at Shrewsbury on the opening weekend and followed that up with a defeat to Championship side Birmingham City in the EFL Cup before they lost their third game in a row at the weekend at home to Bolton Wanderers.
Cheltenham managed just 26% possession in the entire match as they shipped three first-half goals to Wanderers in a comprehensive defeat.
Wade Elliott’s team will be looking to build on a 16th placed finish last campaign and have been relatively busy in the transfer market with 12 incomings and nine outgoings.
Cheltenham captured the signature of former Royals academy graduate Luke Southwood who departed Reading in the summer at the expiration of his contract.
Southwood spent last season on loan with the Robins and impressed by keeping 16 clean sheets as he played in every match of their league campaign in the 2022/23 season.
Reading opted not to extend Southwood’s contract which led to the goalkeeper signing on a permanent deal with Cheltenham.
Ruben Selles will be looking to galvanise his side following a disappointing result at Port Vale and may opt to make some changes in personnel after several young players made their mark in the EFL Cup.
Amadou Mbengue and Tinvgone Rushesha both missed out on the trip to Vale through injury and could be in contention to return on Tuesday.
Predicted Reading line-up: Button, Yiadom, Dean, Holmes, Guinness-Walker, Savage, Wing, Knibbs, Camara, Azeez, Carroll
