Reading vs Brentford – Match preview and team news

Reading and Brentford will clash in a Carabao Cup third-round match at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 BST. The League One team Reading aims to pull off an upset against Premier League opposition Brentford, who have remained unbeaten across all competitions this season.

Reading, led by coach Richard, are looking to build momentum for their promotion push after a five-match unbeaten run across all competitions ended with a 2-1 defeat to Cambridge United on Saturday. The Royals have not faced Brentford since their last meeting in the Championship in February 2021, when Reading lost 3-1. Since then, Brentford has established itself in the Premier League while Reading has spent the last three seasons in League One.

Reading's team news sees Josh Stokes returning to the squad after an injury spell, while Richardson is expected to make significant changes again, potentially leading to Jacob Brown leading the line instead of Jack Marriott and midweek midfielders Liam Fraser and Charlie Savage starting instead of Fraser and Savage. Brentford will be without injured defender Kaye Furo, who had surgery on Monday.

However, Benjamin Fredrick is set to return after full training, and Callum Wilson is expected to replace Igor Thiago as Brentford's lone striker.