Burton Albion vs Reading. Sky Bet Championship.
Pirelli StadiumAttendance2,750.
Monday 29 January 2018 16:48, UK
Defender Ben Turner could return to the Burton squad for the match with Reading after missing the 6-0 defeat at Fulham because of injury.
Turner suffered swelling to his calf after colliding with a post during the 3-1 defeat against QPR but should return to face Fulham. Loan signing Darren Bent is in line for his debut after joining from Derby but Kyle McFadzean is a doubt through illness.
Liam Boyce has returned to training following a knee ligament injury but Will Miller is out after having an operation on his dislocated kneecap and Stephen Warnock has joined Bradford on loan.
Tommy Elphick is poised to make his Reading debut after joining from Aston Villa. Elphick, the former Bournemouth and Brighton defender, completed his loan move to the Madejski Stadium until the end of the season on Monday.
Captain Paul McShane is recovering from a hamstring problem, but forward Joseph Mendes is now back in training following his knee injury. Midfielder John Swift and defender Omar Richards (both hamstring) are unlikely to feature, while Jordan Obita (knee) is out for the season.
This is just the second meeting between these sides at the Pirelli - the other was a 4-2 win for Reading in May 2017 on the final day of last season.
The Royals have won three of the previous four meetings in all competitions but lost the other earlier this season at the Madejski Stadium.
Burton have picked up just one point from a possible 30 in their last 10 home league games (D1 L9), conceding twice or more on nine occasions.
The Royals haven't kept clean sheets in back-to-back away league games since November 2016.
Nigel Clough has lost five of his six home league meetings with Reading (W1), with his only win in that time coming in November 2009 as Derby manager.
Reading are on their worst winless league run (eight games) since a run of nine in April 2015.
