Derby County FC v Reading FC: Match Preview

Derby County FC v Reading FC
League Championship
Saturday 2^nd May, KO 12:15PM
iPro Stadium
Referee: James Linington

Reading (19^th)
Form (all comps): LLLLL
Rotherham v Reading: 2-1
Reading v Brentford: 0-2
Reading v Birmingham: 0-1
Reading v Arsenal (FA Cup): 1-2 (AET)
Reading v Bournemouth: 0-1

Manager: Steve Clarke

Reading continued their poor run of form as they played their part in Rotherham’s ‘staying up’ party by allowing their hosts to get the win they needed to secure their place in the division for another season. The only positive that came from what was a game of little importance to Reading was the goal they scored, their first in 4 league matches. The Royals round off their season with a trip to Derby County, a match which holds significantly more importance for the home side.

Derby (6^th)
Form (all comps): DDWDW
Millwall v Derby: 3-3
Huddersfield v Derby: 4-4
Derby v Blackpool: 4-0
Derby v Brentford: 1-1
Wigan v Derby: 0-2

Manager: Steve McClaren

Derby come into this one needing only a point to secure a place in the play-offs and could climb above Ipswich in 5^th with a win should the East-Anglian side fail to beat Blackburn. The Rams are in inconsistent form and have drawn their last two games despite conceding 7 goals across these two matches. Derby will be hoping they can reach the play-off final in successive seasons but with a view of going a step futher and earning promotion.

Last five meetings
14 Feb 2015 Derby County v Reading W 1-2 FA Cup
18 Oct 2014 Reading v Derby County L 0-3 League Championship
23 Sep 2014 Derby County v Reading L 2-0 Capital One Cup
15 Mar 2014 Reading v Derby County D 0-0 League Championship
21 Sep 2013 Derby County v Reading W 1-3 League Championship

Head to Head
This will be the 38^th meeting between these two sides, Reading have won 21 of the previous encounters, Derby 10, with 6 draws. The game at Madejski Stadium earlier in the season saw Derby put 3 past Reading without reply. The teams were then paired in the FA Cup fourth round, a tie Reading won 2-1 thanks to Yakubu’s winner.

Team News
Reading: Reading boss Steve Clarke could be without midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah and strikers Pavel Pogrebnyak and Jamie Mackie after all picked up knocks. Winger Hal Robson-Kanu should be fit.

Derby: Defenders Jake Buxton (back) and Zak Whitbread (hamstring) along with midfielder Craig Bryson (thigh) are close to returning to fitness, but this game may come too soon for the trio.

Prediction: Derby 3-0 Reading