The thought of facing Bournemouth is a scary one for any side right now, with the Cherries in unstoppable form as they seek promotion to the Premier League.
Scott Parker’s side are still yet to lose a league game this season, with their 3-0 victory over Huddersfield Town last weekend their eighth win in nine matches.
Away from home in 2021-22, Bournemouth have conceded just one goal and have kept six successive clean sheets on the road.
Parker described his team as “relentless” after beating Huddersfield and he may even have one eye on the Championship record points total of 106, which is currently held by their opponents on Saturday.
It means that victory would taste even sweeter for Reading if they were able to hand the Cherries their first league defeat of the campaign.
After a run of five wins in six matches, the Royals have now lost their last two games but remain in playoff contention – with a possible points deduction still hanging over them.
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Veljko Paunovic suggested that his team’s 2-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers last weekend could be put down to fatigue, as they struggle with an injury crisis that has left their substitutes bench largely made up of academy players.
Only Cardiff City and Peterborough United have conceded more goals this season than Reading (24), but the Royals have only lost two of their last 14 home games.
The Berkshire outfit’s 3-1 victory against Bournemouth in January was their first win over the Cherries in their last nine meetings
