Reading Vs QPR Match Preview

TEAM NEWS

Skipper Graeme Murty faces a late fitness test and if he is unable to play then Steve Sidwell will lead the Royals in front of the home supporters for the first time this Saturday. This would also mean that Andy Hughes would continue at right back.

Should Murts make the match Hughes might still play but on the left of midfield at the expense of Paul Brooker who faced his former employers last Saturday. Glenn Little should continue on the right hand of midfield with Dave Kitson partnering Dean Morgan or Lloyd Owusu up front. It is unlikely that Nicky Forster will get a start so soon after recovering from an injury that has seen him sidelined for the most part  of the season to date.

Shaun Goater looks set to leave in the near future and with Nicky Forster and Dean Morgan likely to be on the bench the Goat could well be out of the sixteen once again this Saturday. As yet no new faces have appeared and with a central defender the most pressing concern most recent transfer speculation has been concerned with the forward area. Nigel Howe has recently described the market as 'hopeless'. However young Aussie goalkeeper Adam Federici is very keen to stay at Reading and may be able to earn himself a contract as he continues his trial period with Nick Hammond.

QPR also have a goalkeeper on trial - Jimmy Nielson who almost joined the Foxes last month. Ian Holloway is unlikely to start Jamie Cureton with Curo warming the bench in recent games. Lee Cook has not got a broken foot as previously feared by QPR - he could make the game.

Players out include Richard Edgehill and Richard Johnson. Martin Rowlands could return to action this week. QPR also have a trio of players out with knee injuries: Nick Culkin, Matthew Rose and Arthur Gnohere.

Despite these injuries Holloway has the bulk of his most skilled and experienced players available for selection.

QPR Key Player - Kevin Gallen

FORM GUIDE

Having drawn to Wigan at home the Royals remain unbeaten in all league fixtures since late spring. The Royals are doing well but as we all know well there have been some results that have not gone our way so far this season and 4th - depite being a fantastic position to be in at this stage of the game - is perhaps not something we should be satisfied with.

Saturday's skipper Steve Sidwell made his feelings clear on this after the game and wants the Royals to push on towards the automatic promotion spots. However a first home defeat this weekend could put us down amongst this weekend's opponents, West Ham, Sheffield United and Millwall and leave us further off the top. A victory on the other hand would keep the pressure on the top two and possibly leave Reading in third.

QPR could jump to fifth or fall to as low as 11th depending on results this weekend. There is a good crowd expected and both teams will want to try to keep themselves rooted in at the top end of the table. QPR have yet to win away since their win at the Britannia back in October. However the table does not lie and QPR are aiming to make the play-offs in their first year back in the top flight of the Football League as Reading did two seasons ago.

As we draw near to Christmas there are just four teams with double figure goal differences - the top four. No other teams have goal differences greater than plus four. This is a good sign for the Royals and they will hope to remain in that top four at least in the next half of the season. However, just ten points separate Reading with thirteenth place Leicester so the Royals will have to work hard to grind out the results over the tough winter period.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

Reading 1:0 QPR - 05/01/02
QPR 0:0 Reading - 25/08/01
QPR 1:1 Reading - 28/12/97
Reading 1:2 QPR - 02/09/97
QPR 0:2 Reading - 12/03/97
Reading 2:1 QPR - 23/11/96
 

OTHER INFORMATION

A crowd of nearly 20,000 is expected for the game. Extra buses for the match are running and the club are insisting fans to arrive to the ground as early as possible.

This game is being screened live on Sky

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