Reading will host Birmingham City in the first round of the 2018/19 Carabao Cup.
For the first time there is no seeding for the early rounds, meaning the Royals were clear to face fellow Championship opposition.
And Paul Clement’s men have been handed a tricky draw against Garry Monk’s side having lost 2-0 to Birmingham at Madejski Stadium in the clubs’ last meeting in January.
Royals’ poor home record with the Blues extends back five years having lost three and drawn one of their last four home meetings without scoring a goal, not winning since a 2-0 success in 2013 thanks to a Danny Guthrie brace.
The game is due to take place in the week commencing August 13 with the Championship season beginning the previous weekend. League fixtures are set to be confirmed next week.
Full draw –
Southern Section:
Millwall v Gillingham
Portsmouth v AFC Wimbledon
Cheltenham v Colchester United
Yeovil Town v Aston Villa
Southend United v Brentford
READING v Birmingham City
Wycombe Wanderers v Northampton Town
Swindon Town v Forest Green Rovers
Exeter City v Ipswich Town
Milton Keynes Dons v Charlton Athletic
West Bromwich Albion v Luton Town
Bristol Rovers v Crawley Town
Bristol City v Plymouth Argyle
Cambridge United v Newport County
Queens Park Rangers v Peterborough United
Oxford United v Coventry City
Northern Section:
Tranmere Rovers v Walsall
Crewe Alexandra v Fleetwood Town
Scunthorpe United v Doncaster Rovers
Macclesfield Town v Bradford City
Grimsby Town v Rochdale
Sheffield United v Hull City
Nottingham Forest v Bury
Middlesbrough v Notts County
Sunderland v Sheffield Wednesday
Leeds United v Bolton Wanderers
Carlisle United v Blackburn Rovers
Mansfield Town v Accrington Stanley
Port Vale v Lincoln City
Preston North End v Morecambe
Oldham Athletic v Derby County
Shrewsbury Town v Burton Albion
Blackpool v Barnsley
