On Friday evening, Reading play host to Ipswich in a game in which both teams will be looking to kick start their league campaigns, with the two having made solid if not spectacular starts to the season.

Reading sit 15th in the table, with seven points from five games, most recently picking up three invaluable points at Cardiff.

Mick McCarthy brings his side into this game with the Tractor Boys, having amassed eight points from their first five games, and they lie 11th as a result.

Jaap Stam's Reading have a revamped squad compared to last season, including new additions like Liam Moore, Joey van den Berg and Tyler Blackett.

FLW's Kabir Dave has provided THREE reasons why Reading will come out on top against Ipswich on Friday......

 

Psychological Advantage

Last year, almost a year to the day, the Royals thumped Ipswich 5-1, with Orlando Sa scoring a hat-trick, as they continued to build on a good start to the season.

The timing, and day of last year's fixture was also played on a Friday night and is bound to have a damaging impact on the visitors.

This may lead to them perhaps being overly cautious which will play into the hands of Jaap Stam and his charges, who will look to run at Ipswich, utilising the nerves of the Tractor Boys to their advantage, and attempting to get that early goal that could cause a repeat collapse from the visitors.

Ipswich's lack of cutting edge

Since their opener, a 4-2 home victory against Barnsley, Mick McCarthy's Ipswich have only managed to score two goals in both the league and cup.

In fact, they are yet to score an away goal in all competitions this season.

This, combined with the fact that Reading may come at them early on, may mean that they struggle to get a hold of the match, and some of their main creative players, such as Grant Ward, a summer arrival from Spurs, will be unable to make a decisive impact on the match.

 

Reading's excellent home form

This season, Reading have played 4 games at the Madejski and are unbeaten on home soil in all competitions.

They will look to continue this form, in this game and undoubtedly have the tools to keep that run going, having scored 7 goals at home so far.

Their free-flowing attacking football that has been ever present at the Mad Stad this season, may allow them to cut open Ipswich, and the backing of a boisterous Madejski crowd can very easily push them on to a victory, if they score early.