After a string of poor results, Reading are five points behind sixth-place Barnsley in the race for promotion playoff qualification. The Royals have won just once in their last six Championship matches.
Cardiff City have also fallen off the pace for promotion playoff qualification. They are winless in three straight games, collecting one point during that time period. With five games to go, Cardiff City are 12 points back of Barnsley and unlikely to make up the distance to qualify for the playoffs.
Reading won the reverse fixture against Cardiff City in the Championship. The Royals claimed a 2-1 win thanks to goals from Michael Morrison and Lucas Joao. Cardiff City’s Lee Tomlin scored in the final nine minutes to give Cardiff City hope of a draw, but they came up just short.
The Royals took just six points from their last 18 on offer. They have dipped at the wrong time of the Championship campaign. Cardiff City took a mere five points from the last 18 available. They too have fallen out of form at the wrong time of the season.
Cardiff City manager Mick McCarthy has four players on the team’s injury list. Defender Sean Morrison is a doubt due to a calf injury. Defender Joel Bagan is ruled out with a shoulder injury. Meanwhile, defenders Joe Bennett and Souleymane Bamba are both ruled out until next season.
Veljko Paunović has four names on his injury list as well. Defender Michael Morrison is a doubt with a hamstring strain. Defender Tom McIntyre could play following a knee injury.
Midfielder John Swift is nearing a return from a long layoff due to a hamstring issue. Midfielder Felipe Araruna could shake off a knee injury to play on Friday night.
Reading are unbeaten in 10 straight games in all competitions against Cardiff City. Six of those 10 matches ended in draws between Reading and Cardiff City. The teams could once again see a stalemate on Friday night at the Madejeski Stadium.
Cardiff City have drawn 11 times in 41 league matches this season. The Royals have seen nine of their 41 games end in draws. The promotion playoff rivals should see their hopes of the top six take another hit with a score draw this weekend.
It will be their seventh draw in 11 matches in all competitions. Expect both teams to score with under 2.5 goals scored.