A Jamie Mackie double was enough to secure all three points when Reading hosted Brighton & Hove Albion in midweek, moving The Royals 13 points clear of the relegation zone with ten games to go.

Mackie struck either side of half-time at The Madejski Stadium, with a Chris O’Grady penalty for the visitors sandwiched in-between.

After 36 games, Reading find themselves in 16th position in the Championship table; nine places lower than their final position in the 2013/14 season.

Prior to their win over The Seagulls, Reading had not won in the league for three games, including back-to-back 3-0 losses to Huddersfield Town and a resurgent Nottingham Forest.

The Royals have struggled for form throughout the Championship season; managing consecutive wins just once in 2015 (in addition to three wins in succession back in August and September) and just four victories in the calender year.

Steve Clarke's side have been reliant on their home form to keep them out of relegation trouble, with 61 per cent of their points coming in front of their own supporters.

Whilst Reading have struggled for victories away from The Madejski stadium this year, the few they have managed have all been against high-flying opposition.

Despite only managing four away wins in the league so far, The Royals have claimed triumphs over Middlesbrough, Norwich City, Ipswich Town and Wolves; as well as a 2-1 defeat of Derby County in the FA Cup.

However, aside from those impressive results, The Royals have recorded 17 points in away games this term, whilst losing half of their 18 fixtures. They have also scored just 16 goals on the road and only four teams have managed fewer - Millwall, Rotherham, Bolton and Blackpool.

In addition to their league duties, Reading have battled to the sixth round of the FA Cup, facing Bradford City in a replay next Monday, following a 0-0 draw last weekend. If Reading manage to overcome their League One opposition they will face current cup holders Arsenal in the semi-finals at Wembley in April.

Watford ran out 1-0 victors when the two sides met earlier in the season, with Almen Abdi scoring the only goal of the game in Clarke’s first game in charge of the club.

Whilst Watford will look to make The Royals the seventh team beaten home and away by them, The Hornets will be aware they have not beaten the Berkshire outfit at Vicarage Road on their last three attempts.

The Golden Boys' last success coming in 2010 in the shape of a 3-0 victory.

Reading starting XI vs Brighton and Hove Albion (10/3/2015): Federici; Gunter, Hector, Cooper, McCleary; Williams, Akpan, Chalobah, Blackman; Mackie, Robson-Kanu.