Royals Look For Cup Win At Scunthorpe

Reading return to League Cup action this evening hoping to put their 0-4 thrashing at Nottingham Forest last weekend behind them. The Royals, with an ever growing injury list, have been forced to put an increasing reliance on academy graduates playing their first games for the first team. Although individually Reading were not humiliated, they were taught a lesson by the side heading up the Championship table. Traditionally Reading have fielded a young, perhaps weaker, side for League Cup games. This time around that team is our current first choice side - so expect few changes from the weekend with several key players still missing through injury and new signing Norwood cup-tied.

Scunthorpe United were 1-0 winners away at Blackburn in the first round, while Reading were 3-1 home winners over Newport. The League Cup win is Scunthorpe's only win of the season so far and they have picked up just a single point from their four league fixtures. At home they've let in six goals in two games without scoring themselves. The Royals might have gone down by four goals at the weekend but it could definately be argued their form is better as they look to move to round three. However, Reading fans will remember the 0-6 defeat at Peterborough at this stage of the cup last season and a victory shouldn't be assumed.

It's the first time Reading and Scunthorpe have met in a cup fixture. In recent history Reading have drawn four out of the last six games against them. The last meeting was in April 2011 when Reading were 2-0 away winners in the Championship thanks to goals from Long and Harte.

• Nottingham Forest 4 Reading 0 - Report and Opinion
• Reading -v- Scunthorpe - Recent Meetings