Reading FC v Sheffield Wednesday: Match Preview

Reading FC

Form (all comps): WLDDW

Reading could hand debuts to former Manchester City midfielder George Evans and ex-Bournemouth forward Yann Kermorgant. Garath McCleary is rated 50/50 after a midweek hamstring injury while Jordan Obita may return after a knee injury.

Reading have lost just one of their last six home meetings with Sheffield Wednesday, winning the other five. The most recent was a 2-0 win in January of last year when goals from Pavel Pogrebnyak and Nathaniel Chalobah earned The Royals the win. Saturday's hosts warmed up for this one with an emphatic 5-2 win against fellow Championship side Huddersfield in their FA Cup Third Round Replay where Reading came back from two goals down to score five and book a fourth round tie against Walsall.

Sheffield Wednesday FC

Form (all comps): WWWWL

Wednesday goalkeepers Keiren Westwood (muscle strain) and Joe Wildsmith (back) are doubts so Lewis Price is on standby. Furthermore new signings Joe Bennett, newly arrived on loan from Aston Villa, and Gary Hooper are in the squad.

Hooper recently signed on a permanent transfer from Norwich after previously being on loan and the Owls striker has been directly involved in four goals in his last four games against Reading (three goals, one assist). Sheffield Wednesday come into this one on the back of three straight wins looking for a fourth and if achieved it would be the first time they have done so since April 2012 and the first time in The Championship since 2007.

Reading (v Milton Keynes): Ali Al Habsi, A. Ferdinand, A. Taylor, C. Gunter, J. Cooper, H. Robson-Kanu, G. McCleary (O. John 43), D. Williams, O. Norwood, M. Vydra (Orlando Sa 90+2), Lucas Piazon (Alex 79).

Sheffield Wednesday (v Leeds): L. Price, D. Pudil, G. Loovens, J. Hunt, V. Sasso, S. Hutchinson, R. Wallace (J. Helan 83), K. Lee, B. Bannan, F. Forestieri (Lucas Joao 78), G. Hooper (Semedo 87).

What The Opposition Think

I think with all the new transfers we brought in and the money we spent, we thought that there was going to be a transition period where they started to settle, but this season has been far above my personal expectations.

Sheffield Wednesday fan Joe Crann in View From The Town End.

Last Five Meetings

19 Aug 2015: Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Reading (League Championship)

31 Jan 2015: Reading 2-0 Sheffield Wednesday (League Championship)

20 Sep 2014: Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 Reading (League Championship)

08 Feb 2014: Reading 0-2 Sheffield Wednesday (League Championship)

02 Nov 2013: Sheffield Wednesday 5-2 Reading (League Championship)

Head To Head

Reading v Sheff Wed: W:8 D:3 L:8

YouTube History

Prediction

Reading FC 2-2 Sheffield Wednesday FC