A Right Royal Run

THE Reading season is definitely trending upwards after a tough start, as they arrive at Home Park tomorrow in the Carabao Cup after picking up seven points from their last three outings in the Championship.

Given the stature of their opponents in those games, it has been an impressive revival from the Royals and the improvements actually began in the first round of the Carabao Cup.

Jose Gomes’ side lost 3-1 at home to Sheffield Wednesday on the opening day of the Championship season, a result that has since been put into some context by a tremendous early run of form by the Owls.

It was then on to a difficult trip to Hull City and, despite new striker Lucas Joao getting his first goal as a Royal, it was a game that ended in a 2-1 defeat. Adams Park would be the start of a change in fortunes but Reading were initially looking at a surprise loss to Wycombe when they fell behind on the hour.

Thankfully for Gomes, George Puscas levelled within a minute and the Royals managed to scrape through on penalties. The Romanian international continued his scoring form into the following weekend, grabbing an impressive brace in Reading’s excellent 3-0 victory over Cardiff, who were playing Premier League football just a few months ago.

Reading were suddenly a different outfit and came within two minutes of another three points at West Brom, conceding a late penalty for a draw after Liverpool loanee Ovie Ejaria had given them the lead on 71 minutes.

Ejaria hit the net again on Saturday, scoring the opener at Huddersfield, another side recently relegated from the top flight, and the victory was confirmed by a second from Michael Morrison, moving Reading up to 11th in the Championship.

It all shapes up for a clash between two confident teams at Home Park on Tuesday night.