Good stuff.

A ping from Cedric Kipre to Callum O'Dowda who easily beats Junior Hoilett and crosses, but Sory Kaba's header is straight at Joe Lumley who makes an easy save.

Jaden Philogene, who is playing as a right wingback, shoots wide.

Interesting that Sabri Lamouchi is sticking with three at the back, even though the personnel he has selected made that seem perhaps unlikely.

You feel Reading will want to test Philogene defensively.

Jason Perry
Former Cardiff defender on BBC Radio Wales

Callum O'Dowda has been a quality signing, the problem is he's played at left-back and done very well, however, you've got to try and get him as high up the field as possible.

Good tempo from the hosts.

They look like a side who just won for the first time in over three months.

Jaden Philogene floats in a great cross and Sory Kaba should do better with his header, he doesn't find the target.

Jason Perry
Former Cardiff defender on BBC Radio Wales

Andy Carroll will definitely play on Perry Ng, he'll look at Perry Ng as someone who he can exploit physically.

If you're not so tall you have to be clever!

Bright start from the hosts.

Callum O'Dowda, probably their best player this season, is getting plenty of space down the left.

Early freekick for Cardiff as Andy Carroll drags down Perry Ng.

Obviously size-wise, that's a mismatch.

Andy Carroll wearing number 2 by the way, which is wrong, wrong, wrong.

One day I'll be mature enough not to do James Bond puns about Darren Bond.

That day is not today.

Referee Darren Bond gets us under way in south Wales.

The man with the golden whistle.

Iwan Roberts
Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Cymru

I think Cardiff are an honest group of boys and you can't ask for more, they are limited as footballers in terms of creativity, of course goals is an issue but they'll give it their all on the field, that's what I've realised recently.

The teams are out.

We are moments away.

Cardiff are gambling on a former £8million striker to get them clear of the Championship drop zone.

The Bluebirds have completed the signing of striker Connor Wickham on a deal until the end of the current season.

The former Leeds and Crystal Palace forward left League One side Forest Green Rovers last month after his short-term deal came to an end.

Wickham was signed in time to feature in the Bluebirds' squad for their win at Birmingham, coming on as a second half substitute.

Cardiff are hoping Wickham can bolster an attack that has scored the fewest goals in the Championship this season.

Read more: Cardiff sign free agent striker Connor Wickham

Image source, Getty Images

Andy Carroll's aerial prowess earned Reading their first Championship win of 2023 and ended Rotherham's four-match unbeaten run.

The big former Liverpool and Newcastle front man equalised with a towering header after Millers defender Lee Peltier had scored his first goal for over nine years to give the visitors the lead.

Carroll was the hero again in the last minute of normal time as he once more rose to power a Femi Azeez cross goalwards, only this time Tyrese Fornah used his head to divert the effort past Viktor Johansson.

Read more: Reading 2-1 Rotherham

Image source, PA Media

Jason Perry
Former Cardiff defender on BBC Radio Wales

The Birmingham win was ugly, but that's how Cardiff will have to play now in order to get three points.

There's going to be ups and downs and the only way to take eyes away from the performance is winning.

Two late goals gave Sabri Lamouchi his first victory as Cardiff City boss as they ended their run of 14 games without a win at St Andrew's.

In a game of few chances, Perry Ng's brilliant free-kick put Cardiff ahead.

The Bluebirds extended their lead in stoppage time when substitute Callum Robinson scored a solo effort to earn Cardiff a first win since 5 November.

Victory lifts Cardiff three points clear of the Championship relegation zone as they took advantage of a poor display from a consistently inconsistent Blues side.

Read more: Birmingham 0-2 Cardiff City

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

We have to cast our minds all the way back to August for the reverse fixture between these sides, back in the days when France were the World Cup holders and LF System were top of the pop charts, three weather seasons and three Cardiff managers ago.

It was Tom Ince who inspired Reading to a 2-1 win back in just the second match of the season for the Royals and Bluebirds, as he scored the winner and won the penalty that put Reading level.

Read more: Reading 2-1 Cardiff

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Royals boss Paul Ince has gone full rotation, making five changes from Reading's win over Rotherham.

Tom Ince, Shane Long, Jeff Hendrick, Baba Rahman and Andy Yiadom are the players to drop out, with Scott Dann, Mamadou Loum, Tyrese Fornah, Nesta Guinness-Walker and Femi Azeez recalled.

Reading: Lumley, Salif, Dann, Sarr, Hoilett, N'Diaye, McIntyre, Fornah, Guinness-Walker, Azeez, Carroll.

Subs: Ince, Meite, Casadei, Bouzanis, Abbey, Ehibhatiomhan, Senga-Ngoyi.

Cardiff boss Sabri Lamouchi makes two changes to his side and possibly a formation change, with the Bluebirds seemingly switching to a back four.

Both of the changes are attacking, with Mahlon Romeo and Andy Rinomhota replaced by Jaden Philogene and Cardiff top-scorer Callum Robinson.

New signing Connor Wickham remains on the bench.

Cardiff: Allsop, Ng, Kipre, McGuinness, O'Dowda, Philogene, Sawyers, Wintle, Robinson, Kaba, Etete.

Subs: Wickham, Romeo, Ralls, Ojo, Alnwick, Simpson, Rinomhota.

Good evening from south Wales where we bring you the first football of the weekend.

This is a big game for Cardiff City who are looking to follow-up their first victory in 15 games and secure back-to-back wins for only the second time this season.

Equally, this is a big game for fans of Wigan Athletic, Blackpool and Huddersfield, because a win for Reading will not only boost the Royals' play-off prospects, but will give the bottom three a chance to make ground on the Bluebirds this weekend.

Friday night football, under the lights, what isn't to like?

Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose... let's have a look at those teams shall we?

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency