Reading will look to bounce back from Tuesday's EFL Cup exit when they face Cambridge United at the Abbey Stadium on Monday.

While the Royals are sitting in 18th place in the League One table, the hosts head into the fixture in 11th position.

Match preview

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After avoiding relegation by just one point last term, the U's are hoping to steer well clear of danger in the 2023-24 campaign.

The early signs are encouraging for Mark Bonner's side, who have collected nine points from their opening five matches.

However, the Cambridge boss will have to pick his players up from last weekend's disappointing result after falling to a 2-0 away defeat to newly-promoted Leyton Orient.

The U's will now return to the Abbey Stadium, where they have won two of their opening three home matches after beating Oxford United and Bristol Rovers either side of a defeat to Stevenage.

Cambridge are preparing to face Reading for the first time since 2002, and they will be looking to clinch their first victory over the Royals since claiming a 3-1 victory in August 1999.

Reading, who are hoping to win promotion straight back to the Championship, began the campaign with consecutive league defeats, before recording back-to-back victories over Cheltenham Town and Stevenage.

However, they were quickly stopped in their tracks by Exeter City, who claimed a 2-1 victory last weekend to halt Reading's momentum.

The Royals experienced another disappointing result in midweek, despite taking their EFL Cup tie with Ipswich Town to penalties after Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan netted an 87th-minute equaliser to level the score at 2-2.

Unfortunately for Ruben Selles, his side were beaten 3-1 in the subsequent penalty shootout, bringing an end to their cup journey in the second round.

Having lost their opening two away league games, Reading will be hoping to claim their first away win of the League One season when they face Cambridge on Monday.

Team News

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Cambridge are still unable to call upon the services of Jordan Cousins, who is expected to be out for an extended period.

Long-term absentees Adam May and Mamadou Jobe are continuing to work their way back to fitness, but the pair remain sidelined for Monday's encounter.

After missing the defeat to Leyton Orient due to personal reasons, Elias Kachunga could return to the starting lineup.

As for the visitors, Tyler Bindon, Mamadi Camara, Lewis Wing, Sam Smith and Ovie Ejaria are all injury concerns for the trip to the Abbey Stadium.

The Royals can longer call upon Andy Carroll, who terminated his contract with the club prior to joining French side Amiens.

Reading were active on deadline day, signing Clinton Mola on a permanent deal and recruiting Dominic Ballard on loan from Southampton, but it remains to be seen whether the pair will be involved in Monday's contest.

Cambridge United possible starting lineup:
Stevens; L.Bennett, R.Bennett, Morrison, Andrew; Digby, Thomas; Brophy, Lankester, Kachunga; Ahadme

Reading possible starting lineup:
Button; Mbengue, Dean, Abbey, Carson; Azeez, Savage, Hutchinson, Knibbs; Vickers, Ehibhatiomhan

We say: Cambridge United 1-1 Reading

While Reading will be hoping to claim maximum points, they have struggled in their opening two away league games, and we think that they will have to be content with sharing the spoils in Monday's encounter.

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