READING host play-off pushing Blackburn Rovers as their bid for Championship survival continues.
The Royals are two points above the relegation zone after they earned a draw away at Bournemouth, but relegation rivals Barnsley cut the gap with a win over Bristol City.
They are back on home soil on Saturday when they host promotion hopefuls Blackburn.
Tony Mowbray’s side are currently fourth in the Championship after they defeated Derby County in the week.
Blackburn had put themself in the hunt for the automatic promotion places but have since hit a snag that has seen their form dip.
Despite their lapse in form, which has seen pick up just four points from their last five games which includes three defeats, they remain in a strong position.
Before the round of midweek fixtures, they were one point behind fourth-placed Queens Park Rangers and five points behind Huddersfield Town.
The race to finish in the top six to secure a play-off place is also heating up with teams as low as 14th placed West Brom still hoping for a late push despite it being an outside shot.
Blackburn are only one point above sixth-placed Sheffield United and seventh-placed Luton Town, both of which have a game in hand to catch up on Rovers.
Ben Brereton Diaz has enjoyed an excellent campaign to help push Rovers up the table and leads the goalscoring charts for his team with 20 in 30 appearances.
Blackburn’s poor run of results has coincided with the loss of Brereton Diaz to injury and he isn’t expected to return in time for the trip to the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Saturday.
Mowbray’s team suffered a disappointing blow at the weekend after Andreas Weimann netted a 92nd-minute goal to gift Bristol City a rare away win.
Blackburn have failed to score in their last three Championship matches and have won just one of their last nine matches which has seen them drop out of the automatic promotion places.
Reading’s trip to Ewood Park in October ended in a 2-0 defeat with quickfire goals courtesy of Sam Gallagher and Tyrhys Dolan.
Rovers’ last visit to Berkshire finished with a 1-0 win for the home side with a goal from George Puscas.
