Reading vs Brentford – Match preview and team news

Reading host Brentford in the Carabao Cup third round on Tuesday, with the League One side looking to spring an upset against Premier League opposition at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

Leam Richardson's Royals saw a five-match unbeaten run end with Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Cambridge United, while Keith Andrews ' Brentford remain unbeaten across all competitions this season despite drawing their last three matches.

Reading have not faced Brentford since a 3-1 defeat in the Championship in February 2021, back when both clubs occupied the same division; the Bees have since established themselves in the Premier League while Reading have spent the last three seasons in League One. Richardson's side have made no secret of their promotion ambitions this term, and a cup upset against top-flight opposition would offer a timely boost.

Reading vs Brentford – Match preview and team news

Last meeting: Reading 1-3 Brentford (Championship, 10 February 2021)

Josh Stokes is tipped to return to Reading's matchday squad after a spell out with injury. Richardson made six changes for the previous round win over Stevenage and is expected to rotate heavily again, with Jacob Brown likely to lead the line in place of Jack Marriott and Liam Fraser and Charlie Savage in line to start in midfield.

Brentford will be without Kaye Furo, who underwent surgery on Monday after picking up a training injury that had been set to rule him out of contention for a start regardless. Benjamin Fredrick is expected to be involved after returning to full training, with Callum Wilson set to replace Igor Thiago as the lone striker and Dango Ouattara , Fabio Carvalho and Rico Henry also in contention to start.

Reading's five-match unbeaten run across all competitions came to an end at Cambridge, where they fell behind late on despite taking an early lead through Jack Marriott. Richardson's side have been strong in front of goal at home, scoring more first-half goals than any other team in League One this season, though they sit only 14th in the table as they continue building towards a promotion push.

Brentford remain unbeaten this season but have now drawn three matches in a row, most recently a 2-2 stalemate at Bournemouth in which Kevin Schade scored twice. Andrews admitted his side "did not attack with conviction" in that game, and will be keen for a much-changed Brentford team to show more purpose against lower-league opposition on Tuesday.

Reading predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Pereira; Ahmed, Masterson, Ward, Roberts; Fraser, Savage; Williams, Earthy, Kyerewaa; Brown

Brentford predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Kelleher ; Hickey, Ajer , Schuster, Henry; Janelt, Yarmolyuk; Anthony, Carvalho, Ouattara; Wilson

The match will be broadcast live in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports+.

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