Reading FC News: Royals looking to build momentum against Birmingham City in first game under Paul Ince and Michael Gilkes

Pressure had been growing on the Serbian for quite a few weeks yet it was still quite a shock when the news was released less than an hour after Reading’s 3-2 victory at Preston North End.

Now five points clear of the relegation zone, the Royals will be looking to build on their first win in 84 days against Lee Bowyer’s struggling Blues.

Team News

Junior Hoilett returned from his one-game suspension to regain his starting spot on Saturday but the rest of Reading’s absentees are unlikely to return in time for the midweek clash.

Josh Laurent appears the closest but after missing the victory at Preston his chances must be relatively slim with Saturday’s trip to Blackpool a more likely return date.

Scott Dann and Alen Halilovic remain sidelined with hamstring injuries while Femi Azeez, Dejan Tetek, and Felipe Araruna are not thought to be close.

Tom McIntyre celebrates Saturday's win with Michael Morrison. Image by: JasonPIX

The big unknown is midfielder Ovie Ejaria who has played once since the November defeat to Sheffield United and is now out with an unspecified injury.

Meanwhile, Baba Rahman is a major doubt after being forced off against Preston with a hamstring problem. Tom McIntyre replaced the Ghanaian and performed admirably.

Birmingham have injury problems of their own and are expected to be without Troy Deeney, Taylor Richards, Matija Sarkic, Adan George for the visit to Berkshire.

Form Guide

Saturday’s win at Preston snapped Reading’s 11-game winless run and after a streak of seven consecutive Championship defeats they have now earned four points in their last two.

John Swift scores Reading's third at Preston. Image by: JasonPIX

On a slightly more negative note, Reading have conceded a whopping 30 goals in their last 12 games. They have, however, found goals of their own with striker Lucas Joao scoring four times since returning in mid-January.

Last Five: WDLLL

Birmingham have endured their own share of challenges in recent months, winning just twice in their last 13 league games.

They have been in slightly better form of late, losing only two of their last seven games. As with Reading, they’ve picked up four points in their last two games.

Most recently they drew 2-2 with Stoke City in a back-and-forth encounter that saw Birmingham grab an early lead before falling to 2-1 down.

Last Five: DWLLD

Opposition Danger Man: Lyle Taylor

Having spent the first half of the season with Nottingham Forest, Taylor has flourished since joining Birmingham on loan in January. His three goals for the Blues in just five games has already matched his total for Forest.

The 31-year old striker is well-known to Bowyer after the pair struck an effective partnership at Charlton Athletic, helping carry the team to promotion in 2018/19.

Taylor has started all five fixtures since arriving at St Andrews and he should have a prominent role once more on Tuesday, particularly with Troy Deeney still sidelined.

Last Time Out: Birmingham City 1-2 Reading, November 6th 2021

When these two sides faced off in November, Reading enjoyed one of their most dramatic victories of the season.

Coming in on the back of four straight defeats it appeared it would become five when Scott Hogan gave Bowyer’s team the lead after just three minutes.

Jahmari Clarke celebrates scoring against Birmingham. Image by: JasonPIX

But with time starting to wear thin, an unlikely hero stepped up for Reading: Jahmari Clarke. Off the bench, Clarke struck his first senior goal in the 70th minute to make it 1-1 before giving his side all three points with his second eight minutes from time to spark joyous scenes in the away end.

Predicted Reading XI:

(4-2-3-1)

Karl Hein; Andy Yiadom, Michael Morrison, Tom Holmes, Tom McIntyre; Andy Rinomhota, Danny Drinkwater; Tom Ince, John Swift, Junior Hoilett; Lucas Joao