Hull City AFC v Reading FC: Match Preview

Hull City FC

Form (all comps): WLLLD

Hull captain Michael Dawson is expected to miss the entire festive fixture list for Hull after suffering a knee injury in last week's 1-0 win against Bolton. Fellow defender Alex Bruce is also out (back), meaning Harry Maguire and Curtis Davies are likely to step in.

Hull come into this one sitting third in the table and after putting a halt to their four-game winless run with victory against Bolton at the weekend. This was their first win since an eleven-game unbeaten run was halted with defeat to Derby County at the end of November. Steve Bruce’s men are looking to achieve an immediate return to the top-flight and Martin Khul’s men will face a stern test on Wednesday evening..

Reading FC

Form (all comps): LLLWL

Reading caretaker boss Martin Kuhl will still be without injured midfielders Stephen Quinn (knee) and Aaron Tshibola (ankle) for the trip to the KC Stadium. Defender Paul McShane played 90 minutes against Preston after returning from a facial injury and will line up against his old club.

Martin Khul will again take charge of the first-team as Reading continue their search for a new manager after Steve Clarke’s dismissal following defeat to QPR nearly a fortnight ago. In their first game since Clarke was relieved of his duties Reading found themselves up against the same old problems, as they were defeated 1-0 by Preston. Reading extended their unwanted record to one win in nine Championship games as their slide down the table continues. They come up against a third-placed Tigers side that had hit a slight bump in their march to promotion with three defeats on the bounce before a 1-0 victory at home to Bolton at the weekend. Given Bolton’s current plight, a 1-0 home victory will do little to convince they are over that blip, something Reading will be hoping to take advantage of.

Hull City (v Bolton):

Reading (v Preston): J. Bond, A. Ferdinand, A. Taylor, P. McShane, C. Gunter, H. Robson-Kanu (O. John 55), G. McCleary (Alex 75), D. Williams, O. Norwood, N. Blackman, M. Vydra.

What The Opposition Think

It feels weird expecting, nay demanding promotion to the Premier League given our mean status over the last 30 years (we've scratted around in the lower leagues for most of my supporting life), but the reality is the talent we have at our disposal doesn't lend itself to failure tolerance.

You can check out plenty more opposition opinion in View From The Town End.

Last Five Meetings

21 Jan 2012: Reading 0-1 Hull City (League Championship)

27 Aug 2011: Hull City 1-0 Reading (League Championship)

22 Jan 2011: Reading 1-1 Hull City (League Championship)

28 Dec 2010: Hull City 1-1 Reading (League Championship)

19 Nov 2005: Reading 3-1 Hull City (League Championship)

Head To Head

Reading v Hull: W:17 D:16 L:14

YouTube History

Prediction

Hull City 2-1 Reading