Despite having pushed hard for a playoff spot last season, the majority of Reading supporters would be delighted with consolidation this time around given their situation off the pitch.
Nevertheless, there will be optimism at the Madejski Stadium now that they have gotten three points on the board against a struggling Preston outfit.
Anything less than three points would have only increased concerns about a year of fighting to avoid survival, but the Royals will retain their spot in the Championship in comfortable fashion if they can keep their best players fit.
While Lucas Joao remains the key man for Veljko Paunovic, the Serbian requires the likes of Femi Azeez and Ethan Bristow to develop into regular members of the squad.
As far as Bristol City are concerned, they make the trip to Berkshire having failed to emerge victorious in three games in which they were arguably the favourites.
On the back of a draw with newly-promoted Blackpool and penalty-shootout defeat to Forest Green Rovers in the EFL Cup, the Robins succumbed to a 2-1 reverse at Middlesbrough on Saturday.
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Nigel Pearson would have been pleased with how his players fought their way back into the game at the Riverside Stadium, but another setback has left their manager desperately searching for answers.
Despite being handed a long-term contract in the summer, Pearson now has just two wins from 17 matches, a record which cannot be extended into the autumn..
While the Bristol City hierarchy will be prepared to give the former Leicester City man some time, they will not want to become embroiled in a relegation battle given the calibre of players at the club
