Reading
Form (all comps): LWLDD
Reading captain Paul McShane is a doubt for the clash with QPR after he took a blow to the face in the closing stages of Saturday’s match with Nottingham Forest. If McShane doesn’t recover in time Steve Clarke will have to weigh up whether to give Anton Ferdinand or Jake Cooper a chance at the heart of defence alongside Michael Hector. Matej Vydra is likely to maintain his place in the side while Garath McCleary is likely to miss the game.
The Royals will be looking to bounce back after defeat at Nottingham Forest on Saturday. Steve Clarke’s side took the lead through Vydra on 14 minutes but the tables were turned by half-time thanks to goals from Forests’ Chris O’Grady and Nelson Oliveira before the Portuguese striker sealed the three points with his second goal early in the second half. As Reading pay tribute to John Madejski’s 25 year involvement with the club it would be timely if his beloved Reading marked it with a win!
QPR
Form (all comps): WLDLL
Rangers striker Charlie Austin is continuing to work his match fitness after coming on as a substitute and scoring against Leeds and could be in line to return to the starting line up if deemed fully-fit.
After sacking Chris Ramsey almost four weeks ago it came out on the eve of the clash with Reading that QPR had opened talks with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. Neil Warnock had stepped in on an interim basis after returning to the club in an advisory role but it now looks like they will turn to the former Chelsea and Middlesbrough striker to steer them to promotion at the end of the season. Hasselbaink is currently manager of League One side Burton Albion and has impressed after guiding them to the League Two title last term and enters negotiations with QPR with his side two points clear at the top of League One.
Lineups From Last Game
Reading (v Nottingham Forest): Ali Al-Habsi, A. Taylor, P. McShane (R. Liburd 85), C. Gunter, M. Hector, D. Williams, O. Norwood, O. Sa (P. Hurtado 69), N. Blackman, M. Vydra, Lucas Piazon (O. John 69).
QPR (v Leeds): R. Green, P. Konchesky, N. Onuoha, J. Perch, Suk-Youn Yoon (T. Chery 56), G. Hall, A. Faurlin, M. Phillips, Sandro, M. Petrasso (C. Austin 57), J. Hoilett (K. Henry 89).
What The Opposition Think
Our season is yet to take off after the board decided that after six or seven games; instead of rebuilding, finding a way of relaunching our very ignored youth policy and restructuring the whole ethos of the transfer policy - they changed course and opted to go for promotion. That meant disposing of Chris Ramsey who was just months into what he thought was a three-year plan.
Last Five Meetings
16 Feb 2014: QPR 1-3 Reading (Championship)
09 Nov 2013: Reading 1-1 QPR (Championship)
28 Apr 2013: Reading 0-0 QPR (Premier League)
04 Nov 2012: QPR 1-1 Reading (Premier League)
26 Sep 2012: QPR 2-3 Reading (League Cup)
Head To Head
Reading v QPR: W:39 D:20 L:27
YouTube History
Prediction
Reading 1-1 QPR