Another quick turnaround for Reading, as we once again are on our home turf for the visit of Bournemouth tomorrow afternoon. Eddie Howe’s side have adapted to Championship life well since promotion from League One last season, but haven’t won a game in their seven attempts. It will be a tough game and we will need to improve on our Charlton showing if we are going to win three in a row.
Vital Quotes:
Reading manager Nigel Adkins – ‘It should be a good game. Eddie Howe has done a great job down at Bournemouth. They play some really good football and I’d like to think there’ll be a betting passing display on show than the other night – though that was an excellent victory.’
‘We’ve just had two good victories in the last two games in different manners. There’s been some good goals, good passing display and a little bit of defensive resolve as well which is important to get through this Championship season.’
Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe – ‘It’s another big challenge for us and another game that we couldn’t wait for when the fixture list came out. I think that’s how we have to approach these games. We certainly love going to the grounds that we are and playing the teams that we are. Of course, we want to win games and that’s the challenge that we have to rise to, but I would much rather have this test than be back in League One.’
Reading Team News:
Reading still have a fairly long injury list coming into this one, with Chris Baird, Sean Morrison, Wayne Bridge, Jem Karcan Mikele Leigertwood and Jason Roberts still not available for selection, but one plus is that Chris Gunter will return from his one-match suspension. Royston Drenthe is also getting closer to a first team return, having been named on the bench for the Charlton game. Despite coming off with a calf injury in that game, Danny Williams is set to start.
Player to watch: Billy Sharp
The prolific striker opened his Royals account against Charlton and after a solid performance, is likely to be given his second start by Adkins, which he will hope to work on.
Bournemouth Team News:
Striker Lewis Grabban has been suffering with illness recently, but could be named in the starting line-up by Eddie Howe.
Player to watch: Matt Ritchie
The former Portsmouth midfielder was reportedly a target for Reading a few years ago, but after returning to the side in recent weeks, he has made a decent impression and will want to build on his performances.
Expected line-ups:
Reading – 4-4-2: McCarthy, Gunter, Pearce, Gorkss, Cummings, McCleary, Guthrie, Williams, Obita, Sharp, Pogrebnyak
Bournemouth – 4-5-1: Camp, Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels, Ritchie, Arter, Surman, Pugh, Grabban, Pitman
Match Prediction:
As I mentioned above, we will need to play much better than we did against Charlton to win this game. Adkins has urged his team to put in a better performance and I think we will to come out with the three points.
Vital Reading prediction: Reading 2 – 0 Bournemouth
Next Fixtures:
Reading – Huddersfield (A) – Sat 14th December – SkyBet Championship
Bournemouth – Birmingham (H) – Sat 14th December – SkyBet Championship
