Reading vs Brentford Carabao Cup: Team News, How to Watch & Prediction

Brentford face a quick turnaround from Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Bournemouth as the attention turns to a short trip along the M4 to Reading.

Keith Andrews’ side made an emphatic start to the competition last month with a 6-1 away win at Birmingham City to book their place in the third round. Reading have already come through two ties to reach the third round, beating Bromley on penalties before a 3-0 victory at Stevenage.

The schedule should have a major influence on Andrews’ team selection.

Tuesday’s game falls with little time to spare between the Bournemouth draw and a Friday night night under the lights against Chelsea, leaving only three days before Brentford are back in Premier League action again.

That should give several players on the fringe of the league XI an opportunity at the Madjeksi Stadium, but Reading have already shown enough this season to make wholesale changes a potential risk.

The Bees are without a number of first team players ahead of the trip to Reading. Nathan Collins will not be involved after Andrews confirmed the captain is expected to remain out until after the international break with the calf injury he suffered against Sunderland.

Mathias Jensen is also unlikely to return. Andrews ruled the midfielder out of the Bournemouth game and indicated he was not expected back by the following weekend.

Collins’ absence has already given Jannik Schuster an opportunity in central defence, while the cup could offer Andrews the chance to spread minutes elsewhere if the Bees need to maintain fitness ahead of them welcoming Chelsea to the Gtech Community Stadium.

Brentford made significant changes in the previous round at Birmingham and still produced one of the biggest cup wins in the club’s history. There are options available though, with players including Fábio Carvalho, Callum Wilson, Jaidon Anthony, Yehor Yarmoliuk and El Hadji Malick Diouf all pushing for greater involvement.

Andrews will have to balance that opportunity against keeping enough rhythm in the side before Chelsea arrive in West London on Friday.

Reading come into the tie after seeing a three-game winning run ended by a 2-1 defeat at Cambridge United on Saturday.

Jack Marriott put the Royals ahead during the first half before Cambridge turned the game around with two headed goals after the break. Marriott’s finish was his sixth goal of the season, although he was later substituted with what Leam Richardson described as a minor hamstring concern.

The Royals have won two of their opening six League One matches, but their cup form has been better.

A penalty shoot-out victory over Bromley was followed by an impressive 3-0 away win against Stevenage, putting Richardson’s side one victory away from the last 16.

Former Brentford B winger Kyreece Lisbie is one player the Bees will know well.

Lisbie has brought pace and direct running to Reading’s attack, while summer arrival George Earthy has quickly become another important part of Richardson’s side. Jack Marriott remains the obvious goal threat if he is passed fit.

Reading are unlikely to spend the entire night sitting on the edge of their own penalty area.

Richardson generally uses a 4-2-3-1 which can change when Reading have possession, with the full-backs encouraged to get forward and the shape occasionally resembling a back three.

Lisbie gives them an obvious route to attack wide areas quickly, while much of their play through the middle is designed to eventually find the striker.

Brentford should still expect to have more of the ball than they are accustomed to in the Premier League.

That creates a slightly different test.

Andrews was unhappy with how efficiently his team used possession at Bournemouth, and Reading are capable of making Brentford work if the visitors become careless with the ball.

The gap between Premier League and League One level should give the Bees enough quality to progress, even with changes, but the first two rounds have already given Reading momentum in the competition.

Reading host Brentford at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Tuesday, September 15.

Kick-off is scheduled for 8pm BST.

The tie will be decided on the night. If the scores are level after 90 minutes, the game will go directly to penalties.

The game will be shown live on Sky Sports+ in the UK, with coverage also available through the Sky Sports app and NOW.

CBS’ current Carabao Cup schedule does not list Reading vs Brentford for live streaming in the USA, despite Paramount+ showing selected third-round ties on Tuesday.

The game is listed for live streaming on DAZN Canada.

Brentford’s team will probably look considerably different from the one that started at Bournemouth, but Andrews has enough depth to make changes without fielding an inexperienced side.

Reading have threats of their own and this is exactly the sort of home cup game they will believe can become uncomfortable for Premier League opposition.

The Bees should still have enough.

Their 6-1 win at Birmingham showed how dangerous the wider squad can be when given an opportunity, bit it’s unlikely that the Beees will produce such a high scoring result yet again. Andrews has quality can turn to from the bench should become important if Reading keep the game close.

Prediction: Reading 1-3 Brentford