Battle of two of the top six as Brentford host Reading

Christmas is just a week away now but there is a crucial clash at the top of the Championship before then as Brentford host Reading.

The sides go into the clash with just one point between them with both clubs looking to start the festive period with a much needed victory, just four points separate the teams placed between third and ninth which underlines just how much of an important game it is for both sides.

Reading began the season brilliantly, but have really found it tough of late, losing two of their last two including the loss to Norwich City in midweek, the Bees were also in action in midweek, drawing with Watford at Vicarage Road.

The two sides met twice last season in the league, with Thomas Frank’s side winning both meetings, 1-0 and 3-0 respectively as his side missed out on promotion to the Premier League with a play off final defeat to Fulham.

Brentford come into the clash on the back of a 12-match unbeaten run which has seen the Bees rise up the table following a tough start to the season, they are also just a few days away from an important clash with Newcastle in the Carabao Cup next midweek which may come into the thinking of Frank in the closing stages of tomorrow’s game.

The Royals have been one of the more entertaining sides to watch in the division this season, with only Blackburn Rovers and AFC Bournemouth scoring more, while nobody in the top 11 of the division have conceded more than Veljko Paunović’s team.

Paunovic has highlighted just how tough a test it will be for his side when they make the trip to London this weekend with just one point between the two going into the clash.

“Brentford will be a tough team. We had the opportunity to see them play live on Tuesday – so we are aware of their qualities.

“We are also aware that they have one extra day to recover. So it will be a challenge. But we always give our best.

“It will be a different game, a different kind of experience. We will prepare for that. We’ll recover our boys and be ready.”

The home side have found it difficult to adjust to their new surroundings following the move from Griffin Park, winning just three of the nine clashes to date, giving them the joint 12th best home record in the division heading into the clash.

In contrast, Reading have performed well on the road, collecting 15 points in nine games, giving them the sixth best away record in the Championship, which sets up tomorrow afternoon’s clash perfectly.

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