Preview: Derby County vs. Reading - prediction, team news, lineups

Derby County will host Reading on Wednesday and The Rams will look to move onto a positive points tally with a victory after they received a 12-point deduction for going into administration.

Reading currently sit in ninth position and are three points off a playoff place having won their last three league games.

Match preview

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Derby are bottom of the Championship with -2 points and they face the prospect of more deductions, which could leave The Rams with an insurmountable task to avoid relegation.

On the pitch, draws have been the story of Derby's early season as they have seen four games finish all square and they have only won on two occasions in the league this term.

With a squad that has had little investment, Wayne Rooney will be pleased with his side's efforts this season, but he will be disappointed with their most recent result that ended in defeat.

They seemed set to hold Sheffield United to a goalless draw at the weekend, however The Blades won a penalty in the 89th minute and Billy Sharp stepped up to dispatch the spot kick to snatch all three points.

If Derby are to close the gap between them and safety then they need to find the net more regularly as they have only managed to score six league goals this season.

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Reading currently have 13 points to their name and enter this fixture full of confidence after winning their last three matches.

However, their season did not start in such a positive manner as The Royals only collected four points from their first six Championship fixtures.

Since then, their form has turned for the better and their most recent victory came at the weekend when Alen Halilovic's goal was enough to edge out Middlesbrough.

Unlike Wednesday's opponents, Reading are having no problems finding the net, as they have scored 16 goals this term and John Swift has netted seven of those to become the joint top-scorer in the Championship heading into the midweek set of fixtures.

Reading will feel they have a great chance of getting their fourth consecutive win on Wednesday, especially as they won both league encounters against Derby last season.

Team News

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Derby will be without Colin Kazim-Richards and Krystian Bielik, who are both unavailable through injury.

Goalkeeper Kelle Roos was sent off at the weekend, so Ryan Allsop will start the game in goal for The Rams.

Reading have numerous injury absentees that include centre-backs Tom Holmes and Michael Morrison.

Luke Southwood has impressed in goal recently and kept his place in the starting lineup on Saturday despite Rafael Cabral returning to the squad after a hand injury and the young goalkeeper will start again on Wednesday.

Paunovic could name the same lineup as he aims to guide his side to their fourth successive victory.

Derby County possible starting lineup:
Allsop; Byrne, Jagielka, Davies, Buchanan; Bird, Shinnie, Morrison; Sibley, Baldock, Lawrence

Reading possible starting lineup:
Southwood; Tetek, Yiadom, Laurent, Baba; Drinkwater, Dele-Bashiru, Swift; Halilovic, Ejaria, Hoilett

We say: Derby County 0-2 Reading

Unfortunately for Derby they will face a Reading side in red hot form and with all the turmoil off the pitch we think that could only hinder the hosts and that The Royals could collect their fifth victory of the league season on Wednesday.