Bristol City opponents Reading to be without 12 players and deducted points ‘imminently’

Bristol City's Championship opponents Reading are set to be hit with a double-whammy of an imminent points deduction and an ever-growing absentee list.

Reading travel to Ashton Gate in each sides first game back since the international break, and for the Royals their preparations leading up to the game have been less than ideal. The Berkshire club are facing a points deduction for failing to adhere to a business plan agreed with by the EFL. It is their second six-point deduction in 18 months, having lost six points in the 2021/22 campaign.

Paul Ince's side are currently on 45 points, and are currently 18th, three points off of City, but a six point deduction would bring them into the relegation battle. Reading would go down to 39, level with Cardiff City, and be only three points off of Huddersfield Town, who occupy the last relegation spot.

“We know the points will come off at some point in time,” said Ince to Reading Today, when asked abut the impending points deduction.

“We’ve achieved 45 points which is probably two points from safety so in our heads we’ve done our heads. But all of a sudden you get done six points and then you haven’t done your job and we’ve got to try and stay in this league.

“It’s devastating when you get deducted points, especially so late in the season. I had believed it was coming in the international break.

“There’s no perfect time to get it, but at least we could have had a full week to get on with it and stop whinging about it. It’s been difficult because it’s not come and I’ve been saying to Bo (Mark Bowen), ‘Is it coming, when’s it’s coming.

"We just want to know where we are and go from there. But by the sounds of it, it sounds as if it’s coming in the next 24, 48 hours so it’s imminent."

To make matters worse, Reading could be without several first-team players when they make the trip to the West Country, with numerous players out for the season. Andy Carroll, Scott Dann and Tom Ince are all doubtful, with the former touch-and-go to feature. Dann and Ince meanwhile are being closely monitored.

Baba Rahman has been described as 'nowhere near ready' and will likely miss the rest of the season. Junior Hoilett, Ovie Ejaria, Shane Long and Tom McIntyre aren't expected to make a return either, joining Liam Moore, Sam Hutchinson and Dejan Tetek on the sidelines. Mamadou Loum is serving the second of his three match-ban for a headbutt, making for a depleted squad.

Forward Yakou Meite could be involved, after returning to training this week, whilst Lucas Joao played nearly an entire match on international duty, putting him in contention to play against Nigel Pearson's side. City lost the reverse fixture, losing 2-0 with the suspended Loum and Carroll on the score sheet in October.