Demarai Gray has been dropped to the bench for Birmingham City's Championship clash against Reading at the Madejski Stadium this evening.

Gray is one of three changes to the team that was beaten by Watford last time out, with David Cotterill and Andrew Shinnie also making way for Gary Rowett's side, who will operate in a 3-5-2 formation.

Jonathan Spector, Diego Fabbrini and Wes Thomas return to the team as the visitors look to leapfrog Cardiff City into 13th place with a victory.

Reading, meanwhile, make four changes to their starting XI from the team that was eliminated from the FA Cup at the hands of Arsenal on Saturday.

Adam Federici, who made a decisive error in that match at Wembley, retains his spot in goal, but Alex Pearce, Daniel Williams, Hal Robson-Kanu and Pavel Pogrebnyak all drop out.

They are replaced by Jake Cooper, Jem Karacan, Nathan Ake and Nick Blackman as the Royals play for the first time since having their Championship status mathematically guaranteed.

Reading: Federici; Gunter, Cooper, Hector, Obita; Karacan, Chalobah, Ake, McCleary; Mackie, Blackman
Subs: Andersen, Kelly, Akpan, Norwood, Stacey, Appiah, Novakovich

Birmingham Randolph; Spector, Morrison, Kiernan; Caddis, Grounds, Tesche, Gleeson, Fabbrini; Thomas, Donaldson
Subs: Doyle, Cotterill, Novak, Shinnie, Davis, Gray, Dyer

Written by
Barney Corkhill