Reading are starting to grow in confidence in attack, with striker Lucas Joao finding space outside the Cardiff penalty area before slipping just as he looked ready to shoot.

Yakou Meite then gets the better of Cardiff defender Ciaron Brown, puts in a low cross and it's cleared by Aden Flint.

That goal has done a world of good to Derby's confidence.

The Rams are suddenly pinging the ball around nicely while Rovers are looking tentative.

The visitors work a good passing move before Graeme Shinnie draws Thomas Kaminski into a low save after shooting with his unfavoured right foot.

Reading have their first efforts on goal.

Ovie Ejaria and Michael Olise both have shots blocked, before Yakou Meite tries his luck with an audacious flick of his heel.

It falls harmlessly to Cardiff keeper Alex Smithies, but that was a decent chance for Meite.

It's all been a bit lethargic from Reading so far. They've not got into their passing groove yet.

Cardiff, on the other hand, look up for it, buzzing around energetically.

You'd think Mick McCarthy will be quite encouraged, particularly as his side have lost two and drawn one of their past four games.

Both these sides are out of form, and it shows.

A lot of niggly fouls have not helped the flow of the game, but there's been little quality on show so far.

Blackburn have gone direct at times in search of Adam Armstrong, while Derby are yet to get going in attack.

The Rams have barely had the ball in the Rovers half, save a couple of free-kicks which have come to nothing.

But Derby keeper David Marshall has just made a good diving save to keep out a free-kick from Armstrong..

A first glimpse of Reading's creative midfielders this evening.

Ovie Ejaria, Michael Olise and Andy Rinomhota combine, but Rinomhota's final pass is deflected for a corner which Cardiff clear.

Image source, Getty Images

Good save!

Cardiff's Harry Wilson drifts into space again in between Reading's midfield and defence, and he curls a left-footed shot from the edge of the area towards the far bottom corner.

But Reading keeper Rafael is alert to it, pushing it away with a fine one-handed save.

Jason Perry
Former Cardiff player on BBC Radio Wales

They're pressing from the front and they're being very brave in possession Cardiff City.

Cardiff are now getting hold of the ball a little more.

Harry Wilson is getting into some dangerous positions on the edge of the Reading penalty area.

Will Vaulks then tries to launch a long free-kick into the box but the home side clear.

Chance for Cardiff.

A cross into the Reading penalty area is cleared to Harry Wilson, who hits a firm shot which Aden Flint tries to divert into the net - but it goes wide.

Cardiff are always a threat from set-pieces.

It's been a fairly even opening 10 minutes at Blackburn, but the hosts are starting to have the better of the game.

On-loan Rovers forward Harvey Elliott has curled a shot over the Derby bar from about 25 yards out.

Jason Perry
Former Cardiff player on BBC Radio Wales

I think what they miss without Sean Morrison is he's the most comfortable of the defenders on the ball.

Reading have another spell in possession, passing it around in defence at a leisurely pace.

Cardiff, again, don't seem to mind too much. They're happy for Reading to play in front of them.

That is, at least, until the Royals hoist a long ball over the top, which right-back Andy Yiadom controls and tries to cross into the six-yard box - but Cardiff's Curtis Nelson is there to clear.

Nice to have an evening game played with some springtime sunshine, isn't it?

A sign that the season is approaching its closing stages - play-offs, relegation scraps, drama!

Reading are starting to settle now and they're enjoying a decent spell of possession.

Cardiff seem happy enough to sit back, try to contain their opponents and hit them on the break.

Early chance for Cardiff.

Harry Wilson is fouled on the edge of the Reading penalty area by Liam Moore and it's a free-kick from the kind of range Wilson likes to shoot from.

He shapes to shoot but, like he did against Blackburn last weekend, he lays the ball off to Will Vaulks, who blasts the ball into the wall.

They are under way at Ewood Park.

Derby could do with victory to move away from the relegation zone, while Rovers are hoping for a first win in eight outings.

Tonight's referee at the Madejski Stadium is John Brooks.

He blows his whistle, and it's Cardiff who get us under way.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

This evening's games are the reverse fixtures to those which happened all the way back on 26 September, 2020.

Both of today's hosts, Reading and Blackburn, were victorious on that occasion.

Goals from Michael Morrison and Lucas Joao maintained Reading's unbeaten start to the season in a 2-1 win at the Cardiff City Stadium.

And at Pride Park, three goals in four first-half minutes gave Blackburn the perfect platform for their 4-0 victory, Bradley Johnson scoring a brace.