A Royal Toffee Test!

Both Reading and Everton enter their final game before Christmas Day on the backs of home defeats. Blackburn overturned Reading from a goal, while Chelsea did the same to Everton.

It is a game that both teams are desperate to win; Everton lie midtable and need to break the spell of the inconsistent form that has summed up this season for them so far. Meanwhile, a win for the Royals guarantees them a place in the top half over Christmas and takes them one step closer to certain promotion.

The encounter between the two sides will be Reading`s captain, Graeme Murty`s, 300th appearance and the skipper insists that all he wants to celebrate the occasion is three points:

“Hopefully I can lead the team out for my 300th game. But I`m only happy when we win though, getting three points is the main thing.”

Vital Quotes:

David Moyes shows his respect for Reading and that he knows them suprisingly well:

‘I don’t think anyone should be surprised by what Reading have done.
‘They’ve got a good side with a great team ethic and spirit, that’s what it looks like from a distance.

‘Look at their cup results from last season when they played Premier teams and didn’t even play all their players as they were going for promotion.’

Meanwhile, Steve Coppell tell his players to forget about Chelsea and Man Utd:

‘We have two big games coming up against the two best teams in the country away from home.

‘Everton is very much the focus in the crosshairs at the moment, nobody is looking beyond that, I’ll guarantee that.’

Reading Team News:

Neither teams have to worry about any new injuries; Reading, of course, will be without ‘sicknote` striker Dave Kitson and winger Bobby Convey – both of whom are nearing return and should be available for fixtures in early January.

Reading (from): Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Little, Sidwell, Harper, Hunt, Doyle, Seol, Lita, Long, Oster, Gunnarsson, Bikey, De La Cruz, Federici.

Leroy Lita will be vying for a place upfront, and if he gets it Seol Ki Hyeon willjoin Glen Little and John Oster fighting for the right wing.

Player to watch: Graeme Murty

Although he won’t be the driving force in the team, the captain may look to make his 300th Reading game one to remember.

Everton Team News:

Everton will be without top goalscorer Tim Cahill, which can only be good news for Reading.

Meanwhile the Toffees can be pleased that Mikel Arteta will be available despite the agitation to his ankle injury in the Chelsea game. And Nuno Valente, Phil Neville and Leon Osman are all fine showing no bad reactions to their returns last weekend.

Everton (from): Howard, Wright, Neville, Yobo, Stubbs, Weir, Lescott, Valente, Naysmith, Osman, Carsley, Arteta, Davies, Van der Meyde, McFadden, Anichebe, Beattie, Johnson, Vaughan, Hughes.

David Moyes is expected to announce the same team that lost at Chelsea last weekend, while Steve Coppell could revamp the Reading team that have picked up one point in the last three games.

Player to watch: Andy Johnson

The ex-Palace striker faced Reading twice last season and will be looking to beat th Royals after failing to do so with Place last year.

Match Facts & Stats

The managers will have these squads to pick from:
Reading and Everton have only met in league football once, previously, Everton won both fixtures back in the season of 1930-31.

This will be the first time the clubs have met since Everton beat Reading 1-0 in the 3rd round of the League Cup at Goodison Park back in 1973.

Ref Watch:

Steve Tanner from Somerset will referee the contest.

Match Prediction:

This one will be a toughie, with both teams feeling the need for the points, I think we will see a lot of attacking football and a good few goals, hopefully Reading will walk out with the result but I reckon it could go either way.

Next Fixtures: