The Royals travel to the North-East to face the Black Cats in the Championship.

Here is everything you need to know.

Form

After a poor run of results in the Championship, Paul Ince’s showed character against Watford last time out. A Tom Ince penalty and Jeff Hendrick goal salvaged a point for the Royals after going two goals down against the Hornets.

However, it does mean that Reading have not won a game in their last five in the Championship, with their last championship victory coming in 2022.

Sunderland have done brilliantly in their first season back in the Championship. Last year’s League One play-off final winners are currently ninth after 29 games. Tony Mowbray’s side are just two points off the play-off spots in the Championship as they seek a rapid return to the Premier League.

The last time the two sides met at the Stadium of Light was back in 2017 when the Royals came out on top in a 3-1 victory. Modou Barrow bagged a brace whilst David Edwards also added to the tally for Reading that day, in the season that Sunderland got relegated to League One where they had been until this season.

Team News

Paul Ince revealed that Lucas Joao is a doubt for Saturday’s game in what will be a last-minute decision on whether he is in the squad.

Another late call will be that of Liam Moore, who has been out with a lengthy injury. Thomas Holmes is also carrying a knock.

Tom Ince is battling flu but could still be involved, whilst Naby Sarr is back after his injury.

Ovie Ejaria and Abdul Rahman Baba are set to miss out, whilst Sam Hutchinson is still out long term.

 

Last Time Out: Reading 0-3 Sunderland; Wednesday 14 September, 2022

A Patrick Roberts brace helped Sunderland on their way to a 3-0 victory over the Royals in the reverse fixture.  

Jack Clarke scored Sunderland’s third in the second half to claim all three points for the Black Cats at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.