Preview: Bristol City vs. Reading - prediction, team news, lineups

Bristol City play host to Reading on Wednesday evening looking to end a three-match winless streak in the Championship.

While the Robins begin the week in 17th position, Reading have remained above the relegation zone despite losing their last five fixtures.

Match preview

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Such has been Bristol City's inconsistencies this season that the best that they can realistically hope for is achieving mid-table respectability by the end of the season.

However, having lost five of their last eight games and conceded 22 goals in the process, Nigel Pearson knows that failing to achieve another win in the short term will keep the club as outside relegation candidates.

With 14 points the gap to 22nd-placed Peterborough United, that remains highly unlikely, but complacency is the last thing that Pearson will want among a group of players who have continuously under-performed all season.

Their latest defeat came at Blackpool on Saturday, the Robins shipping three goals either side of half time to go down by a 3-1 scoreline at Bloomfield Road.

The perception is that Pearson must be clinging onto his job at Ashton Gate, and another defeat against a team woefully out of form such as Reading may lead to the Bristol City hierarchy opting for a change in direction.

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Many Reading supporters are querying why their own board have not taken that option with Veljko Paunovic, who has overseen a run of nine matches without success in all competitions.

The bigger picture may dictate that the Royals cannot afford to part ways with the Serbian on numerous levels, but there will be an acknowledgement that Reading only remain outside of the relegation zone due to the form of the teams below them.

At some point, that will likely change, and Paunovic will hope that a weekend off from action has given his players the chance to recharge their batteries ahead of such an important fixture.

Reading have conceded 23 goals in seven games since the turn of the year, but their own addition on transfer deadline day was in the form of winger Tom Ince.

Team News

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Having come through 45 minutes at the weekend, Joe Williams could be restored to the centre of Bristol City's midfield after injury.

Alex Scott would likely switch to right wing-back with Callum O'Dowda to miss out, while Nahki Wells has put himself in contention for a recall after scoring off the substitutes' bench at Blackpool.

The likes of George Tanner, Matty James and Andy King are again expected to miss out through injury.

Ince is likely to replace George Puscas, who departed Reading on deadline day, with Ovie Ejaria another creative player pushing for an appearance.

That reshuffle should lead to Andy Rinomhota being restored to the middle of the pitch, potentially taking the spot of Danny Drinkwater.

Bristol City possible starting lineup:
O'Leary; Kalas, Klose, Pring; Scott, Massengo, Williams, Dasilva; Weimann; Martin, Semenyo

Reading possible starting lineup:
Southwood; Yiadom, Holmes, Morrison, Rahman; Laurent, Rinomhota; Ince, Swift, Ejaria; Joao

We say: Bristol City 2-1 Reading

With both clubs having endured their own issues all season, this match feels like a difficult one to call. However, the home side may just have enough to claim all three points, potentially during the latter stages when the Royals may attempt to shut up shop for a draw.

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