Royals To Blunt Blades?

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.