Reading will host Blackburn Rovers at the Madejski Stadium this Saturday, and Steve Coppell`s men will be hopeful of continue their tremendous form at home this season, and more so their excellent start to their first Premiership campaign.
Royal`s skipper Graeme Murty is desperate to be fit for his side`s encounter with Rovers, whose recent form on the road has been somewhat disappointing.
Murty, along with South Korean Internation Seol Ki-Hyeon, missed the 0-0 draw at basement club Watford last weekend after picking up toe injuries in the narrow defeat to Newcastle last Wednesday.
Both have returned to training as they look to overcome toe problems. Of the two, Seol’s involvement in the game is slightly more doubtful but Coppell is confident about their chances.
Steve said, ‘Murty has trained a couple of times now and seems to be alright.
‘Seol trained for the first time today, he’s still a little tender but should be fine.
Andre Bikey and Leroy Lita were the duo`s replacements at Vicarage Road, and both will be hopeful themselves of retaining their places in the starting line-up. Murty`s return would almost definitely condemn Bikey back to the bench, but following Lita`s words in the press Coppell may favour the young striker who has declared himself hungry for goals.
The former Bristol City man had not started a game since the Chelsea defeat back in October, and Steve said, ‘His season has been bitty for a lot of reasons.
‘He lost half of last season injured, then he was getting up to speed. There have been lots of things.
‘Whenever he’s been in the team we’ve either been playing the best sides or playing away from home.
‘I have to decide whether to play him this weekend. I’d like to give him the opportunity but my bottom line is always the best team to get three points.’
Fan favourites Dave Kitson (hamstring) and Bobby Convey (knee) are still weeks away from a return to
Reading Team News:
Reading (from): Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Oster, Sidwell, Harper, Hunt, Seol, Doyle, Lita, Bikey, Gunnarsson, Sodje, de la Cruz, Little, Long.
Player to watch: Glen Little
After featuring for only a few minutes in the draw with Watford, Reading winger Glen Little will be keen to get back into the swing of things. The tricky midfielder will be looking to get the ball down and play, and if skipper Greame Murty returns to the starting eleven their partnership may again blossom.
Blackburn Rovers Team News:
Blackburn (from): Friedel, Neill, Ooijer, Todd, Gray, McEveley, Bentley, Savage, Tugay, Pedersen, Nonda, McCarthy, Derbyshire, Brown, Mokoena, Gallagher, Peter, Nolan.
Player to watch: Benni McCarthy
The impressive striker starting to really find his feet since joining from Portuguese champions Porto in the summer. Rover’s leading scorer has eight goals to his name so far this season and will be looking to add to his tally.
Match Facts & Stats
READING
7th – 26 points
Highest realistically achievable after Saturday’s matches: 4th
Lowest could fall: 8th
1. Lost one of the last six Premiership matches.
2. Kept four clean sheets in five League games.
3. The only goals conceded in five outings were the three in the 3-2 loss at Newcastle on 6 December.
4. Failed to score in one of the last six League games, and in four of 10.
5. Looking for a 75th win in 145 League games under Steve Coppell.
6. The 0-0 draw at Watford last time out, was the Royals’ first goalless game in 25 League matches.
7. Another home fixture, against Everton, is outstanding before Christmas. Thereafter, there’s the toughest of all fixtures away to Chelsea on Boxing Day and Manchester United on the following Saturday. 2007 starts with a home fixture against West Ham.
BLACKBURN ROVERS
17th – 16 points
Highest achievable after Saturday’s matches: 14th
Lowest could fall: 17th
1. Won their most recent outing in Europe, but lost the last two League games (away to Charlton and home to Newcastle), and in danger of losing three on the spin for the second time in eight Premiership outings.
2. Won one of the last nine League games (2-0, home to Fulham on 2 December).
3. Lost six of the last eight top flight games.
4. Failed to score in four of eight top tier outings.
5. Won 32 and lost 32 Premiership matches under Mark Hughes.
6. Conceded five goals in the last 10 minutes of top League encounters this term.
7. Won only one away League game all season (0-1 at Middlesbrough on 23 September).
8. Gone 12 top flight matches since a no score draw (away to Sheffield United on 9 September).
9. Conceded more penalties in Premiership matches this season than any other club (seven).
10. Visit Arsenal next Saturday, then host Liverpool on Boxing Day and Middlesbrough on the following Saturday,
Ref Watch:
Graham Poll (Tring, Hertfordshire)
This Saturday’s official is Graham Poll, who was last at Madejski Stadium for our 2-0 win over Charlton.
The Royals hoped for a penalty late on for a challenge on Stephen Hunt, but Coppell said afterwards, ‘It was a top performance from Graham Poll, no problems from me, I’d have him every week.’
Most recently Poll sent Manchester City striker Bernardo Corradi off for diving in the Manchester derby; a decision that was vindicated by City boss Stuart Pearce after the game.
Match Prediction:
A very tight game, but given Reading’s impressive home form and Blackburn’s struggles on the road, I’ll go for a narrow home victory by no more than the odd goal.
