After a fortnight international break, the Royals return home hoping to end their baron run of four straight defeats against a Watford side, that themselves are in 22nd with just 3 points and without a win this season.
Vital Quotes:
Reading manager Brian McDermott – “What I want is for the team to go out and put on a performance and play good, exciting football and get the right result. I`ve got a lot of ideas in my head and I`ve thought about nothing else since we lost 1-0 at Hull. Football is about results, but I want to play football that the fans want to see.’
Watford boss Sean Dyche – ‘It’s another tough game, they are all. It’s a topsy-turvy league and a tough division. We’ll be prepared and confident we can get a result. I know Nigel Gibbs and Brian McDermott well and they’ll have their side up for the challenge.
Reading Team News:
The Royals have no new injury worries ahead of this game with Andy Griffin now fully recovered from his hamstring problem. Kaspars Gorkss is set to make his home debut while it could be the same for new signings Adam Le Fondre and Joe Mills as boss McDermott is keen to make changes to a side that has lost the last four games.
Likely starting XI: Federici, Griffin, Pearce, Gorkss, Harte, Kebe, Karacan, Leigertwood, McAnuff, Hunt, Le Fondre
Player to watch: Adam Le Fondre
The deadly finisher has been given his chance in a higher division after some fine goalscoring seasons in League Two, which has seem his score nearly 50 goals over the past two seasons.
Watford Team News:
Sean Dyche has no new injury worries going into this game with Stephen McGinn his only long-term absentee. Joe Garner is likely to make his debut for the club after signing from Nottingham Forest last month.
Player to watch: Marvin Sordell
The young Watford striker has made a decent start to the season, scoring 2 goals and made his England U21 debut last week, scoring a fine 30-yard strike against Israel.
Match Facts & Stats
Last 5 Fixtures:
Reading 4 – 0 Watford – 9th January 2009
Reading 1 – 1 Watford – 28th September 2009
Watford 3 – 0 Reading – 24th April 2010
Watford 1 – 1 Reading – 20th November 2010
Reading 1 – 1 Watford – 9th February 2011
Match Prediction:
It should be a tight game but I can see the Royals sneaking it in the last 10 minutes 1-0.
Next Fixtures:
Reading – Doncaster (H) – Sat 17th September
Watford – Barnsley (A) – Sat 17th September
