The Royals scored one of the fastest goals in Premier League history when Kevin Doyle set us on our way to a 2-1 triumph over Sheffield United and a first ever away victory in top flight football at Bramall Lane back in September.
Now the two promoted clubs meet again with the home side comfortable in the top half of the table, and the visitors hovering just above the drop zone. Blades manager Neil Warnock will need no reminding that the last time Reading played a home League game, we thrashed West Ham 6-0.
Kevin Doyle is out for up to four weeks with a hamstring problem, and Shane Long is his likely replacement after coming on in his place at Goodison.
However, Long picked up a thigh problem in training on Thursday, and he will be monitored up until kick off.
Graeme Murty is close to a return from a groin injury, but he will still be given a late test.
Brynjar Gunnarsson remains out because of a hamstring problem.
Dave Kitson scored while playing 70 minutes of our behind-closed-doors friendly with Charlton in midweek, and boss Steve Coppell says he could start if Long is out.
Bobby Convey played the full game against the Addicks, and could be in line for his first Premiership appearance since October.
The Blades could give Matthew Kilgallon a debut, but frontman Luton Shelton cannot play as his deal did not go through in time.
Centre back Chris Morgan remains suspended for striking Arsenal’s Robin Van Persie, so Chris Lucketti should continue in his place.
Paul Gerrard will remain in goal, with both Paddy Kenny and Ian Bennett nursing injuries.
Centre back Kilgallon signed from Leeds last week, but his debut has been held back by injury, while Shelton is a Jamaican striker who is on the verge of signing from Helsingborgs. He scored 9 goals in 19 games for his team last season, while teammate Henrik Larsson notched one fewer
Vital Quotes:
Penguin from Batman Returns has finally eaten a healthy slice of humble pie – he has actually complimented the Royals!
Typical pre-match build up would include Warnock declaring his Blades side are the much better team, only for him to have egg smeared over his face as we go on to prove him wrong. Not this time though.
Warnock admitted, ‘They beat us at Bramall Lane earlier in the season, but we never do well against them at home, they’re a bit of a bogey side.
If you look at the bookies and listen to the pundits we’re down to lose. But then the pundits said we’d lose to Arsenal and look what happened.
‘They’ve been the team of the season, they score goals and defend strongly.’
Reading Team News:
Reading (from): Hahnemann, Murty, de la Cruz, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Little, Sidwell, Harper, Hunt, Convey, Lita, Long, Kitson, Federici, Bikey, Oster, Seol, Sodje.
Player to watch: Leroy Lita
With the Royals’ top scorer Kevin Doyle sidelined with the hamstring injury picked up at Everton last weekend, Leroy Lita will have to take responsibility in leading the line. Lita’s been in good form as of late, scoring four in his last five games. Another couple would do the trick tomorrow, please Leroy.
Sheffield United Team News:
Sheffield United (from): Gerrard, Davis, Jagielka, Gillespie, Kozluk, Tonge, Armstrong, Bromby, A Quinn, Montgomery, Webber, Hulse, Law, Nade, Kazim-Richards, S Quinn, Geary, Stead, Lucketti, Kilgallon, Seck.
Player to watch: Phil Jagielka
Without doubt, Phil Jaielka is the Blades’ talisman. The versatile midfielder, who can also slot in unnoticed in defence, will be looking to rally his teammates and lead by example tomorrow. He scored a peach in United’s first Premiership win against Middlesbrough earlier this season, and will be looking to add to his tally.
Match Facts & Stats
READING
9th – 31 points
Highest achievable after Saturday’s matches: 7th
Lowest could fall: 12th
SHEFFIELD UNITED
16th – 24 points
Highest achievable after Saturday’s matches: 15th
Lowest could fall: 16th
Ref Watch:
Mark Halsey (Lancashire)
Saturday’s official is Mark Halsey, who was the man in the middle for Reading’s first ever top flight game against Middlesbrough in August.
On that day he booked Steve Sidwell for celebrating his equaliser, while he only showed a yellow card to Boro’s Chris Riggott after a challenge on Dave Kitson that kept him out until only last week.
Match Prediction:
We have not lost in our last nine games against the Blades, a run that stretches back to December 2002. Saying this, Sheffield are certainly not an easy side to play and have picked up their fair share of wins so far this season. Doyle will be a big loss but I’ll back whoever replaces him to perform. 2-1 in a narrow home win.
i think this will be close. but i am skeptical before every game. this one is important too us because until we have secured around the 40points mark every team that is below us is a ‘relegation rival’. for me this is a six pointer, if we win it puts us three points closer to our target and three less closer to the drop
sheffield are like thugs aren’t they, no class and won’t be long till they are out of this division.. i hope they get a big fine and suspensions, that silly irish twit gillespie deserves to be kicked out of football.
Think you’ll find it was the Reading bench, and Downes in particular, that showed a lack of class PG! And don’t even get me started on Lita!
oh please, sheffield proved their worth as usual today. shocking performance on the pitch and shocking off, and all ‘just becuase your losing!’
Lita has his ups and downs but for the most part hesa decent player, a million miles better then any of the thousand strikers warnock has and have failed in the prem!
drunkard bill, i would like to invite you to share your views again, but this time please keep it clean! we dont wish to promote offensive language and there were one or two remarks which were not appropriate. thank you.
j.w. it would appear your fans are either infantile or just thick!! if they cannot see that players like lita ( a cheap import from d r congo) has no integrity. he has clearly not been brought up on a diet of sporting behaviour, and doesnt understand the ethic of performing in a competitive, yes, but sporting environment. his sort are ruining our national game. what will your ‘loyal’ fans of 2 seasons think, when he leaves for A BIG FAT PAY CHECK, AND COMES BACK TO THE MADELSKI TO CON HIS WAY TO A PENALTY? YOUR FANS DON’T UNDERSTAND THAT THIS UNSPORTING BEHAVIOUR AFFECTS US ALL, AS FOOTBALL remains first and foremost a sport. lita cares only for money and self gain. he has a serious attitude problem. you may choose to delete this email, and that will confirm my opinion, you only require reading fans views in order to keep everything nice and rosy in the garden. please get real, and accept that away fans are part of the game at every event, and our views should not be oblittorated by the ‘voice of reding’ for the sake of a sided argument.
Drunkard Bill, please realise that we don’t condone diving, and reading back through these comments, there’s no indication that we do. We appreciate your views here on Vital Reading and encourage more away fans like yourself to share their thoughts.
Your original post was deleted due to some offensive remarks and bad language. We completely agree with your views on diving and feel it does ruin the game. Between ourselves we complain whenever Lita goes to ground easily, and if you read the recent match report you will note this.