Brentford v Reading preview
Friday 28 September 2018 15:45, UK
Brentford boss Dean Smith will recall a host of players for the visit of Reading.
Smith made six changes for the 3-1 Carabao Cup defeat at Arsenal in midweek. Therefore Dan Bentley, Chris Mepham, Henrik Dalsgaard, Josh McEachran, Lewis MacLeod and Neal Maupay could all return to the starting line-up.
Rico Henry is still building up his fitness following a serious knee injury.
Reading will have to make at least one change for the short trip along the M4 to Griffin Park. The Royals finally broke their home duck with a 3-0 victory over Hull last weekend but John O'Shea was sent off late on and is suspended.
They still have injury concerns over Vito Mannone, David Meyler, Jordan Obita and Adrian Popa. Long-term injury victims Garath McCleary and Callum Harriott are edging closer to returns.
Opta stats
Brentford have won five of their last eight league matches against Reading (D1 L2).
Reading haven't kept a clean sheet in their last 23 visits to Brentford in all competitions since a 1-0 win in September 1973 with Steve Death in goal for the Royals.
Brentford have lost just two of their last 26 Championship games on home soil (W13 D11 L2) and are unbeaten in their last nine (W6 D3) winning each of their previous four.
Reading have won just one of their last 12 Championship away games (D4 L7) however, that victory did come in their last away outing against Preston (3-2).
Only Swansea City and Ipswich (both 25) have used more players in the Championship this season than Reading (24), whilst Brentford (17) have used three players fewer than any other side in the division.
Brentford striker Neal Maupay has been directly involved in 11 goals in the Championship this season (eight goals, three assists); the most of any player.
Prutton's prediction
David Prutton predicts: 3-1 (11/1)
