Kenny Jackett's Wolverhampton Wanderers head to the Madejski Stadium to take on Brian McDermott's Reading this afternoon in what could be labelled as a Sky Bet Championship mid-table clash. 

Both teams would have been hoping that they would have been higher up the table by this point at the start of the season.

When Wolves narrowly missed out on the play-offs last season, many bookies had them down as one of the favourites to get promoted this time around.

However, it's been a season of inconsistency at Molineux as the club have struggled to put together a string of results to challenge the top six.

They still have an outside chance of making the play-offs, but results such as Tuesday's 2-2 draw with basement club Bolton Wanderers just aren't good enough if they have ambitions of promotion.

Reading will be bitterly disappointed to be lying in 16th place as another season of Championship football beckons for the Royals.

McDermott came in to replace Steve Clarke who was sacked, but he has only managed two wins in his eight league games in charge of the club.

After reaching the FA Cup semi-finals last year, fans will be hoping that the team can continue their success in the competition this year, as they reached the fifth round after comfortably dispatching Walsall 4-0.

However, their league form still leaves a lot to be desired, and McDermott will be hoping that progression in the cup will encourage an improvement in the club's league performances for the remainder of the season.

FootballLeagueWorld writer Alex Grove identifies three things to look out for in this afternoon's clash...

1) Matej Vydra's league form

The on-loan Watford striker has been banging in the goals for the Royals in the FA Cup, scoring in all three of their games this term, including a hat-trick in a 5-2 demolition of Huddersfield Town.

However, he hasn't scored in the league since the end of November in a defeat at Nottingham Forest, and has only scored two league goals all season.

If Reading's fortunes are going to improve, fans will be hoping that he can find his scoring boots in the league sooner rather than later if they are going to enjoy a strong finish to the season.

The Czech international will be hoping that he can form a strong partnership with proven Championship striker Yann Kermorgant, who was signed in January from AFC Bournemouth.

On paper, these two should be a formidable threat, and Reading fans will be intrigued to see if these two can get scoring in the league against an injury-hit Wolverhampton Wanderers.

2) Joe Mason

With new signing Michal Zyro out for six weeks after a flurry of goals in his first few games for the club, all eyes are now on new signing Joe Mason to see if he can live up to his hefty £3 million price tag in a Wolves shirt.

He got off to the right start against Bolton, scoring inside the first three minutes of his debut for the club underneath the Molineux spotlights.

Occupying a central attacking midfield role, fans will be hoping that like the injured Dave Edwards, he can get in amongst the goals and also drive the team forward to set up Adam Le Fondre or Bjorn Sigurdarson.

If he can grab another goal against Reading, then he will be in the fans' good-books for sure and some of the pressure will certainly be lifted off his shoulders.

3) Another goal-fest?

The last time these two sides met at the Madejski in September 2014, the home side scored an 89th minute goal through Glenn Murray to secure a 3-3 draw.

In what was an early season encounter, both sides' defences fell to pieces as five second-half goals were scored in what was an enjoyable game for the neutral.

With both sides seemingly stuck in a rut in the middle of the table with promotion ambitions sliding away with every passing game, there's no reason why both sides can't just attempt to outscore each other at the Madejski.

With regards to the league, there's no denying that both teams could do with a confidence-boosting victory and this could set the tonic for both Reading and Wolves to attack from the off this afternoon.

 

Reading and Wolves fans... what do you think the score will be? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!