• Reading v Watford
• Emirates FA Cup third round
• Select Car Leasing Stadium
• Saturday January 7, 12.30pm KO

• Referee: Peter Bankes
• Assistant Referees: Edward Smart & Nick Greenhalgh
• Fourth Official: Tom Reeves

From January 3 to January 8, the South Western Railway (SWR) network will be impacted by industrial action.

SWR is urging customers to only travel if absolutely necessary between those dates. The latest information and details of which services are running can be found HERE.

The Royals have tasted victory three times since suffering a 2-0 defeat to Watford back in November, when João Pedro’s double made the difference on the night. However, Reading are without a win in their last two and head into the FA Cup contest looking to regain their momentum.

Fifteen senior players are definitely unavailable to Slaven Bilić for Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup third-round tie.

The injury list stands at 13, Hassane Kamara is suspended and Matheus Martins continues to await his international clearance.

Young Canada international Ismaël Koné will be available to add to Watford’s midfield options. For more team news ahead of the match, click HERE.

For Reading, centre-back duo Liam Moore and Scott Dann could feature but Tom Holmes will not be available due to illness.

Slaven Bilić, Watford Head Coach:

“It's been a good mood here considering the [injury] situation. It was a quite extraordinary win [against Norwich City] and it does give a positive injection into the training ground.

“Reading are a good side, a tough side, with fighting spirit like the manager [Paul Ince]. I'm looking forward to this one.”

Paul Ince, Reading Manager:

“Watford have got some injury worries, but no-one worried about us when we had so many injuries at the club so I’m not going to concern myself about them.

“Watford have a big squad, they’ve just bought a player for good money who is going to come in and play so I’m sure Slaven Bilić will be putting out a team who he knows can win the game. And whatever team they put out they are going to be good players.”

Overall:
Won: 50
Drawn: 26
Lost: 45

Last Six:
November 2022: Watford 2-0 Reading (Championship)
April 2021: Watford 2-0 Reading (Championship)
October 2020: Reading 1-0 Watford (Championship)
August 2018: Reading 0-2 Watford (League Cup)
March 2015: Watford 4-1 Reading (Championship)
December 2014: Reading 0-1 Watford (Championship)

The last time both sides met was only two months ago, when a brace from João Pedro earnt the Hornets three points in the Sky Bet Championship.