With Bristol City easily dispatched at the weekend, QPR visit the Madejski Stadium to try and stop the Royals making it 4 wins from 4 succesive home league games.
QPR have been in freefall since they thrashed us 4-1 back in October but are unbeaten in three matches under the guidance of new manager Neil Warnock.
The sides head into the game on the same number of points, and goal difference, so expect an evenly contested encounter. A full match preview is here….
Vital Quotes:
Saturday’s match winner Gylfi Sigurdsson –
‘The most important thing is to get as high as we can in the table and get as many points as possible before the last month of the season.
Reading Team News:
Andy Griffin is set to return for the Royals after missing Saturday’s win against Bristol City with a hamstring strain. There are no new injury concerns but Brian McDermott will still have to do without Jem Karacan and Kalifa Cisse who are still a couple of weeks away from a return.
Adam Federici will be in goal, with Mills, Ingimarsson and Bertrand likely to join Griffin in defence, but Brynjar Gunnarsson stands by.
Jay Tabb and Brian Howard will sit behind the three attacking midfielders, Kebe, Sigurdsson and McAnuff.
Shane Long will lead the line but Simon Church is knocking on the door for another start.
Player to watch: Gylfi Sigurdsson
The Icelandic youngster put in a superb display against Bristol City and could have scored more than the 2 goals he did get. Will be keen continue his good run of goalscoring form, and he will pose the biggest threat to Neil Warnocks side.
QPR Team News:
There are no new injury concerns for Neil Warnock, but he is set to be without Marcus Bent because of league rules that only allow 5 loanee’s in a match day squad.
Carl Ikeme, on loan from Wolves, will be between the sticks with Matt Connolly, Kasper Gorkss, Damian Stewart and Matt Hill in front of him.
Adel Tarrabt, Alejandro Faurlin, Mikele Leigertwood and Hogan Ephraim will make up the midfield with Tamas Priskin and Jay Simpson leading the line. Antonio German, Rowan Vine and Lee Cook are set to be on the bench.
Player to watch: Adel Taarabt
The on loan Spurs winger gave the Royals defence a torrid time back in October when we were soundly beaten 4-1 at Loftus Road. On his day he can unlock the toughest of defences and appears to be enjoying working under Neil Warnock.
Last Meeting
Tuesday 20th October 2010, QPR 4-1 Reading. Loftus Road
Ref Watch:
Young ref from Surrey, Gavin Ward, will take charge of this one.
He has only been a football league ref since 2007 and has never taken charge of the Royals, or QPR. He was the man who abandoned the game between Plymouth and Barnsley late in the second half with the visitors winning 4-1.
Match Prediction:
We look unbeatable at home but this is the end of a long succesion of games at the Madejksi Stadium and against a team in form under a new manager. I would settle for a draw in an entertaining game, 2-2.
Next Fixture:
Saturday 20th March 2010,Middlesbrough (A)
This is a tough one to predict – two teams evenly-matched as you look at the table, so I can’t tell if it’ll be tight or open! My guess that we’ll look to keep things tight at the back and only start playing when we’re in sight of goal. I’ve punted for a narrow QPR win, but to be honest I’m not sure!
Games between us have always been tight, but the earlier meeting this season was an exception! Brian McDermott seems to think it will be very open, so I can see an entertaining draw! If not a Reading win!