Reading vs Millwall
English League Championship
Date: Saturday, 3rd February 2018
Kick-off at 15:00 UK/ 16:00 CET
Venue: Madejski Stadium (Reading).
Reading
New signings Tommy Elphick and Chris Martin look set to be handed full debuts as the Royals welcome Millwall to RG2, with the 3-5-2 system used against Burton potentially set to feature once again here.
Jon Dadi Bodvarsson will almost certainly start up top alongside Derby loanee Martin, with Modou Barrow and Sone Aluko in danger of dropping out of the side. Elsewhere, Omar Richards is closing in on a return from injury and could make the bench for the hosts.
Liam Kelly was absent from the matchday squad as Reading defeated Burton 3-1 and is a doubt here, whilst John Swift and Paul McShane are still out with hamstring injuries. Callum Harriott is closing in on a return after almost a year on the sidelines but isn’t expected to feature for the first-team for at least a few more weeks.
Elsewhere there has been little change in terms of team news, with Jaap Stam likely to field a settled lineup as he looks back-to-back wins for the first time since November.
Millwall
The Lions head to the ‘Mad Stad’ unbeaten in five in all competitions and boosted by the return of fan-favourite Tim Cahill, with the 38-year-old sealing an emotional return to The Den earlier this week. The Aussie is in with a chance of starting against the Royals on Saturday, although Neil Harris will have to choose between two of Cahill and Tom Elliot, Lee Gregory and Steve Morison up top.
As well as Cahill, Neil Harris added experienced defender Jason Shackell and Wolves winger Ben Marshall to the ranks on loan until the end of the season. The duo could both be handed starts here, with Harris keen to rotate his deep squad.
Winger Aiden O’Brien continues his return from an ankle injury and will play no part for the visitors. Byron Webster and Shane Ferguson are both long-term absentees and will miss out on the trip to the Madejski.
Reading vs Millwall: Head-to-head
Reading’s victory over Burton was their first in 9 games
Reading are winless in 4 games at home in the Championship
Millwall are unbeaten in 4 league games
Millwall are unbeaten in 3 games against Reading
Reading are unbeaten in 9 games at home against Millwall
Reading saw their last 5 games against Millwall having both teams finding the net
Reading vs Millwall: Predictions
Millwall may have survived their last visit to Leeds to claim their first victory away from home but the team has hardly changed anything. Reading should have enough about themselves to avoid the defeat here. They are in a tough situation but they can get points here.
Most of those teams’ direct clashes have seen goals. This time we don’t have any particular reason to think otherwise. BTTS looks like a good option.
Opta stats
Reading have won seven and drawn two of their last nine home matches against Millwall in all competitions.
Millwall's last away win at Reading came in January 2001 - current manager Neil Harris scored a hat-trick in a 4-3 victory.
The Royals have won just two of their last 12 Championship home games (D3 L7), failing to win all four home games in December and January (D1 L3).
The Lions ended their run of 21 Championship away games without a victory with their win over Leeds - they last won two successive away trips in the second tier in February 2015.
Reading's Jón Dadi Bödvarsson has scored five goals in his last four appearances in all competitions, scoring a brace last time out against Burton and a hat-trick against Stevenage in the FA Cup.
Jed Wallace has had a hand in five goals in his last seven starts for Millwall in all competitions (2 goals, 3 assists).
