Reading look to steady their promotion push as they prepare to host QPR

Reading will be looking to solidify their place in the top six of the Championship as they welcome Queens Park Rangers to the Madejski Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Royals suffered a setback to their promotion hopes against relegation-threatened Birmingham City in their previous outing as they slumped to a 2-1 defeat. This means they fell to sixth position, just two points clear of Bournemouth in the final play-off spot.

Meanwhile, their opponents QPR come into the match off the back of a stunning comeback victory against Millwall and the 3-2 victory means the Hoops have won seven of their last 11 matches, eliminating the slight fear of falling into a relegation battle.

Instead, they are now looking upwards and will look to avenge an 89th minute winner from Reading midfielder Michael Olise in a narrow 1-0 defeat against the Hoops in the reverse fixture earlier in the season.

Reading are winless in their last two matches and are now nervously looking over their shoulders but manager Veljko Paunovic remains confident his side can rediscover their form in order to finish in the top six.

Paunovic said: “In this point of the season everyone is fighting for their lives and no game is going to be easy, mistakes like Birmingham can happen but it cannot happen again, we don’t have time to dwell on the defeat and we have to bounce back immediately.

“I understand that people are having doubts now [about finishing in the play-off spots] but we will fix it and I believe completely in our team and in our group and I know what we are capable of.”

Their opponents, the Hoops sit mid-table in 12th position and a victory could help them mount a late push for the play-off spot themselves closing the gap on their opponents to just nine points with a game in hand on their main competitors for sixth position.

Ahead of the match, QPR manager Mark Warburton hoped his side can build from their morale boosting victory over the Lions.

Warburton said: “To come back in that fashion the players showed a lot of desire and commitment so they can take huge belief from that performance.”

Battle of the Strikers: Lucas Joao vs Charlie Austin

Reading Striker Lucas Joao has netted 21 times this season and his goals have propelled the Royals’ push for promotion but the goals have dried up in recent weeks and he has only scored once in the last seven matches coinciding with the slight slump in the form of his team.

The Portuguese striker suffered an injury setback during the Christmas period that slowed the flow of goals but since his return he has netted seven times and provided three assists in just 15 appearances.

Despite the slower rate of strike rate, Paunovic insisted he is happy with the contribution of his talisman but pushed the forward to raise his level in order to secure a play-off spot.

Paunovic said: “I am very happy with his performances so far but he can still do more, he is in a good place and we’ll keep encouraging and supporting him.”

Their opponents also have a renowned goalscorer in their team as they resigned Charlie Austin on loan from West Bromwich Albion in January.

Since his return to Loftus Road he has scored six goals and ignited the comeback against Milwall in their previous fixture.

The Englishman has experience in fighting for promotion as he scored 11 goals to lift the Baggies’ into second position and promote them into the Premier League last season.

The 31-year-old was also instrumental in the Hoops’ last successful promotion campaign as he scored 20 goals in the 2013-2014 season to reach the Premier League via the play-off finals.

The following season despite being relegated Austin scored 18 goals in England’s top flight but his progress in the following years of his career has been plagued with injuries.

QPR will hope he can rediscover his full potential to make them serious contenders for the play-offs once again this season.

Team News:

For the hosts Michael Morrison remains out having missed the last three matches due to a hamstring strain suffered against Blackburn Rovers.

John Swift is also ruled out due to a more serious hamstring injury and is expected to be out until at least mid April.

Felipe Araruna remains sidelined following a significant knee injury suffered against Cardiff in September.

However, Andy Rinomhota and Ovie Ejaria both returned from injury and featured off the bench against Birmingham and will be hoping to start.

Meanwhile, the Hoops also have three players ruled out as Thomas Carroll, Charlie Owens and Luke Amos all are out with knee injuries.

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