Reading FC v Derby County: Match Preview

Reading

Form (all comps): WWWDD

After an emphatic 5-1 victory at home to Ipswich on Friday night brought an end to Reading’s run of seven home league matches without a win they return to the Mad Stad looking to extend their unbeaten run this season to eight matches.

Steve Clarke could stick with the team that romped to victory in their last game but he will have Michael Hector, Danny Williams and Paolo Hurtado available after returning late from international duty. However, Dominic Samuel is still out with a knee injury. In the last ten meetings between these two sides The Royals have come out on top on six occasions losing just twice.

Derby County

Form (all comps): WLDDD

Derby defender and ex-Royal Chris Baird is unavailable after being knocked unconscious in his sides 2-1 victory over Preston at the weekend. Midfielders Craig Bryson (knee) and George Thorne (calf) will miss the game as they continue recovery from their respective injuries.

Johnny Russell and Chris Martin have scored all of Derby’s six goals in the league this season with two and four goals respectively and will be the key men to watch again on Tuesday evening.

Lineups From Last Game

Reading FC: J. Bond, A. Ferdinand, P. McShane, C. Gunter, S. Quinn, O. Norwood, J. Obita, A. Tshibola, O. Sa (H. Robson-Kanu 82), N. Blackman (O. John 78), M. Vydra (L. Piazon 77)

Derby County FC: L. Grant, S. Warnock (C. Forsyth 79), C. Baird, J. Shackell, R. Keogh, C. Christie, J. Butterfield (J. Hendrick 61), B. Johnson, T. Ince (A. Weimann 74), J. Russell, C. Martin

What The Opposition Think

The club's aim is promotion, pure and simple. I expect us to finish in the top six as a minimum, with Middlesbrough and Burnley likely to be our toughest competition. The play-offs would be a real test of everyone's nerve, after what has happened in the last couple of seasons - but if it has to be that way, so be it.

Last Five Meetings

02 May 2015: Derby 0-3 Reading (League Championship)

14 Feb 2015: Derby 1-2 Reading (FA Cup)

18 Oct 2014: Reading 0-3 Derby (League Championship)

23 Sep 2014: Derby 2-0 Reading (Capital One Cup)

15 Mar 2014: Reading 0-0 Derby (League Championship)

Head To Head

Reading v Derby County: W:22 D:6 L:10

YouTube History

Prediction

Reading 2-1 Derby County