26 October 2012
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Fulham are next up for The Royals in the Premier League, as the hunt for the first full three points of the season continues. Fulham have had a reasonable start to the season, unlike Reading, but even many neutrals see this fixture as a chance for Reading to end their winless league run. Even Mark Lawrenson has predicted a Reading win. The kiss of death perhaps. The press have been busy bigging the game up as a "must win" fixture for Reading who sit firmly in the bottom three. Meanwhile McAnuff has spoken out to say it's ridiculous to call it a must win. Well... it doesn't get much more important that this if we're looking to avoid relegation this season.
After only returning from injury on the second game of the season, Jem Karacan looks set to be ruled out for at least a few weeks with a knee problem. Noel Hunt may return up front and should feature as Reading will, hopefully, play an attacking formation at home. It's another afternoon where the focus will be on former players with Pogrebnyak facing Fulham after playing for them last season. Former Reading favourite Steve Sidwell will also make a return to the Madesjki Stadium. Alex McCarthy will continue his excellent run in goal - but will we see Federici back on the bench?
Last time we met Fulham in the Premier League it genuinely did turn out to be a must win game. Fulham beat us 0-2 at the Madejski Stadium, and then ended up finishing above us on goal difference, as Reading were relegated back to the Championship a month later. We also lost the away game earlier that season at Fulham, but won both fixtures 1-0 the season before - making it two wins each over the four previous Premier League meetings.
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