Reading prevented recent back-to-back defeats from turning into something more sinister last Saturday when they recorded a slightly surprising 3-1 win away at Wigan Athletic, and The Royals will be hoping they can continue this momentum into Saturday’s clash against Birmingham City when they return to their Madejski Stadium.
Defeats to Brentford (1-0 away) and Leeds United (1-0 at home) had threatened to dump Reading back into the relegation mire, but the win over Wigan was a huge relief for all concerned with the Berkshire club as they seek to continue their revival under newly appointed manager, Mark Bowen.
Since Bowen took over at the helm, Reading have suffered just the 2 defeats out of his 7 games in charge and this improved turnaround of form has included wins against Preston North End, Millwall, Luton Town and the win away at Wigan Athletic.
This resurgence in form has helped lift Reading away from the immediate danger of relegation as The Royals now have a 5-point buffer above the bottom three, heading into this weekend’s action in the Championship.
Reading have also won 3 of the 4 home matches under Bowen since his appointment.
Onto Birmingham City and the visitors drew a third match on the trot in the Championship when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Millwall at St Andrews, but although The Blues are now unbeaten in their last 3 matches in the second tier, this recent draw has extended Birmingham’s winless run in the Championship to 5 matches.
Defeats to Cardiff City (away) and Fulham (home) undid the previous good work that Birmingham had achieved with wins over Blackburn Rovers and Luton Town, which were both registered on home turf.
Results away from home have generally been disappointing though for Birmingham who have managed to register just 1 win out of their last 9 matches on their travels, that being a narrow 1-0 win at Charlton Athletic, but a sequence that also includes defeats at Nottingham Forest, Swansea City, Derby County, Wigan Athletic, Leeds United and Cardiff City - which equates to 6 defeats from these last 9 away matches.
Although Reading suffered defeat last time out at home, that was to high-flying 2nd placed Leeds United, and this Birmingham outfit look a far less daunting prospect on their travels.