Thomas Frank expects Reading to “fight for their lives” when Brentford visits relegation-threatened Reading but relishes the upcoming test.

The Bees travel to the Madejski Stadium this weekend where points are crucial to the Royals’ bid to avoid relegation from the Championship this season.

While Frank’s men will have been buoyed by their 2-0 win against struggling Ipswich Town, they will also be keen to improve on their woeful away record.

Only Millwall, Ipswich, Rotherham United and Wigan Athletic have accrued fewer points on their travels, all relegation candidates, and ranks Brentford 20th in the division.

Frank said it’s a “massive” test for his team, adding: “They will fight, fight, fight, fight for their lives. We know they will be extremely difficult [to play against], and especially when they play at home with a big crowd behind them.

“It's a very good challenge for us, we're looking forward to it, and hopefully we can add three points to our away form. That'd be nice.

“I think we had two very good offensive performances in the last two games at Griffin Park so I expect us to take that into the next game as well.”

Rotherham must win away to all but safe Stoke City, and Wigan stun league leaders Norwich City, for Reading to drop into the relegation zone.

Frank was also reminded of the last time the two teams played, in September 2018, when Yoann Barbet’s late goal rescued 10-man Brentford a point in a 2-2 draw.

Both teams had different managers back then as Dean Smith left for promotion-chasing Aston Villa, while Paul Clement was sacked a few months later.

He added: “I think we controlled that game completely, in many aspects, but they got some goals that killed us a little bit.

“[There are] no easy games in the Championship and I should expect a very difficult game.”