English Other
2026-09-15 - Reading vs Brentford
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English League Cup Third Round
Tuesday 15th September 2026 - Kick Off 8pm
Reading
Twenty seasons ago, Reading were beginning the first ever campaign in the Premier League and they finished 8th at the conclusion of the 2006/07 season. That proved to be the highest ever League finish, but recent years have been dominated by a disliked owner forcing the club into a poor financial position and Reading are now in a fourth consecutive season in League One.
This is the second full season under a new ownership group, but the Reading fans know they will have to be patient as the club are put on a stronger financial footing. It may mean another season of consolidation at this level having finished 12th last time around, while the Cup competitions offer The Royals a positive distraction. This season, Reading have beaten Bromley and Stevenage in the League Cup run, but they have not reached the Fourth Round since 2016/17.
Reading had not only been unbeaten in 5 games in all competitions, but they had won 3 in a row before the 2-1 loss at Cambridge United on Saturday. After losing to Luton Town at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, Reading had lost 4 in a row at home going back to last season. However, The Royals have turned that around and are unbeaten in 3 here in all competitions and have won the last 2.
Brentford
If you remove Arsenal and Manchester City, the English Premier League looks wide open for new challengers for places in the Champions League and a settled club like Brentford may feel they can push towards those places. Keith Andrews will be well aware how difficult that will be, but Brentford have begun the season in a confident mood and they will be looking to produce two more big results before the first international break of the season.
There may be some frustration with the scheduling that means Brentford have to play this League Cup Third Round tie on Tuesday before playing in the Premier League on Friday, especially as the opponent played their own League Cup tie last week. With no European Football to stretch the squad, Brentford will take the Cup competitions seriously and have reached the Quarter Final in the League Cup in each of the last two seasons.
Brentford have extended the unbeaten run to 7 games in all competitions, although each of the last 3 fixtures have ended in draws since crushing Birmingham City 1-6 at St Andrew's in the League Cup Second Round. The 2-2 draw at Bournemouth does mean The Bees have won none of the last 7 away Premier League games, but that victory in the League Cup Second Round in the West Midlands will help the confidence of the squad ahead of this short trip to Berkshire.
Changes were made to freshen up the starting eleven when travelling to Birmingham City and the same is very likely for this tie considering Brentford are hosting Chelsea on Friday night.
Head to Head
Brentford beat Reading 3-1 in both League games when these clubs met in the 2020/21 Championship season.
Reading have lost 3 of the last 4 when hosting Brentford, including the last 2 in a row.
Prediction
The early Rounds of the League Cup are played at a time when clubs do not want to risk key players having too many minutes in the legs and even those lower down in the Premier League will make changes.
In fact, those in the lower Divisions also choose to rotate at times and that means the top flight clubs remain strong favourites to progress.
That is the case for Brentford ahead of this relatively short trip to League One Reading and the depth of the Premier League squad should prove to be a difference maker.
Brentford made changes in the League Cup Second Round win at Birmingham City and a similar starting eleven should have too much for Reading.
Respect has to be given to The Royals for putting together a 3 game unbeaten run at home since losing to Luton Town, but this is a considerable step up in level of opponent and that is likely to be reflected in the final score.
The Pick :
Reading 1-3 Brentford
