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Charlton Athletic FC v Reading FC
League Championship
Saturday 21st March, KO 3PM
The Valley Stadium
Referee: Darren Deadman
Reading (18th)
Form (all comps): WLWDD
Reading v Bradford (FA Cup): 3-0
Watford v Reading: 4-1
Reading v Brighton: 2-1
Bradford v Reading (FA Cup): 0-0
Bolton v Reading: 1-1
Manager: Steve Clarke
To the semi-final! Reading booked their place at Wembley on Monday night, defeating Bradford 3-0 to seal an FA Cup semi-final tie against Arsenal next month. Back in the league, leaders Watford easily defeated a Reading team featuring nine changes to the side that took on Brighton as they cruised to a 4-1 win. Now, Reading face a Charlton side that has only lost once to the Royals in their last 7 meetings at The Valley. Although both sides are playing for mid table positions the managers - who have both been appointed in 2015 - will want their players to fight for every point until the end of the season as they attempt to imprint their ideas onto their respective new teams.
Charlton (13th)
Form (all comps): WLWWW
Blackpool v Charlton: 0-3
Charlton v Blackburn: 1-3
Cardiff v Charlton: 1-2
Charlton v Nottingham Forest: 2-1
Charlton v Huddersfield: 3-0
Manager: Guy Luzon
Charlton come into this one with six wins in their last eight games. Their most recent match saw them put three past Blackpool on Tuesday night as the Addicks continued their upturn in fortunes since the appointment of Luzon in January. Charlton currently sit in 13th, 14 points adrift of the play-off positions. Guy Luzon, 39, was most recently Standard Liege manager before taking up the position on Charlton’s new head coach following the sacking of Bob Peeters. The Israeli’s reign did not start well, a 5-0 defeat to Watford in his first game was followed up with draws against Wolves and Rotherham and two more defeats followed before he got his first win. This result kick started their current run of 6 wins in 8 games, which they will be looking to add to this weekend.
Last five meetings
08 Nov 2014 Reading v Charlton Athletic L 0-1 League Championship
05 Apr 2014 Charlton Athletic v Reading W 0-1 League Championship
03 Dec 2013 Reading v Charlton Athletic W 1-0 League Championship
23 Aug 2011 Charlton Athletic v Reading L 2-1 Carling Cup
10 Mar 2009 Reading v Charlton Athletic D 2-2 League Championship
Head to Head
These teams have met 38 times before in all competitions with Reading winning 14 to Charlton's 14 as 11 have ended in a draw. When these teams met at the Madejski earlier in the season an Igor Vetokele goal secured all three points for the visitors. Reading won both home and away against Charlton last season, the clash at The Valley was won thanks to a Danny Williams strike while Billy Sharp secured victory with his goal at the Madejski. Last seasons win at The Valley was their first in seven previous meetings on this ground.
Team News
Reading: Nathaniel Chalobah is a major doubt for Reading with a foot injury picked up in the win over Bradford on Monday night. Oliver Norwood is expected to deputise should he not recover in time. Anton Ferdinand remains out with a calf injury.
Charlton: Charlton will be missing captain Johnnie Jackson (leg) while Rhoys Wiggins has a calf injury. Chris Solly and Tony Watt picked up knocks during the at Blackpool on Tuesday but both should return for the visit of Reading. Franck Moussa is out for the rest of season with a knee injury.
Prediction: Charlton 2-2 Reading