Preview: Bristol Rovers vs. Reading

Sports Mole previews Tuesday’s League One clash between Bristol Rovers and Reading, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Bristol Rovers will attempt to end a six-game winless run when they welcome Reading to the Memorial Stadium for Tuesday’s League One contest.

The Royals, meanwhile, will be hoping to return to winning ways after taking just one point from their last two matches.

Match preview
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Having picked up 51 points from 41 matches, Bristol Rovers enter the final five matches in 15th place and with little to play for.

However, Bristol Rovers boss Matt Taylor will still be keen to see his team spark a turnaround after drawing two and losing four of their last six matches.

Taylor will be particularly disappointed by the fact his side have failed to score in each of those six matches, including Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat to promotion-chasing Bolton Wanderers.

As a result of the weekend’s loss, Bristol Rovers will head into Tuesday’s fixture with just two wins from their last nine home league games (D1, L6).

After failing to beat Reading in five head-to-head meetings, the Gas are hoping to record a win over the Royals for the first time since storming to a 6-0 victory in January 1999.

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Reading are not sitting quite as comfortably as their opponents, with a six-point deduction keeping them in the relegation battle.

Nevertheless, the Royals are still well set to avoid the drop, having established a six-point gap to the relegation zone with four games left to play.

The Royals recorded consecutive victories over Cambridge United and Northampton Town, before they suffered a heavy 5-2 defeat in their away meeting with Bolton Wanderers.

Although they failed to return to winning ways on Saturday, Reading managed to salvage a point against Lincoln City thanks to Tyler Bindon’s 83rd-minute equaliser.

After making it three home games without defeat, the Royals will now head on their travels, where they have struggled in recent times, having lost three of their previous four away matches.

Bristol Rovers League One form:

Reading League One form:

Team News
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Elkan Baggott, Tristan Crama and Jack Hunt are all closing in on a return to action, but it remains to be seen whether they will be declared fit for Tuesday’s contest.

Taylor could decide to revert to back a four, which may lead to recalls for full-backs Luca Hoole and Lewis Gordon.

Chris Martin will continue to lead the line for the Gas, having scored 15 goals in 31 league appearances this season.

As for the visitors, Ruben Selles has the majority of his squad available for the midweek trip to the Memorial Stadium.

Midfielder Charlie Savage could return to the lineup after he dropped down to the bench at the weekend following a run of four consecutive starts.

Sam Smith scored one of his 11 league goals of the season in November’s reverse fixture against Bristol Rovers, and he will have the chance to add to that tally when he spearheads Reading’s attack on Tuesday.

Bristol Rovers possible starting lineup:
Ward; Hoole, Wilson, Taylor, Gordon; Conteh, Finley; Thomas, Evans, Sinclair; Martin

Reading possible starting lineup:
Pereira; Yiadom, Mbengue, Bindon, Dorsett; Wing, Savage; Azeez, Knibbs, Mukairu; Smith

We say: Bristol Rovers 1-1 Reading
Bristol Rovers may have lost three of their last four matches, but we think they will do enough to take a point off a Reading side that tend to struggle on the road.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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