MATCHWATCH : Aston Villa (a) sponsored by prayer mats everywhere

[Sutekh]

Aston Villa XI : Johnstone, Baker, Chester, Hutton, Amavi, Jedinak, Bacuna, Adomah, Kodija, Hourihane, Lansbury

Subs : Hogan, Bree, Sarkic, Richards, Elphick, Gardner, Grealish

[Ian Royal]

Reading XI : Habsi, Gunter, Moore, Blackett, Obita, Kelly, Williams, Swift, Popa, Mendes, Grabban

Subs : Jaakkola, Mutch, Meite, Evans, McCleary, Kermorgant, Ilori

Jez Louise. Mendes!?

I'm assuming he's written this off as the more difficult game and is resting / not risking Meite, Evans, McCleary, Kermorgant and Ilori.

[BR0B0T]

bollox thought this game was on the telly box

[Hound]

Weird one - not far off our first choice but Mendes is a major surprise.

Can't say I'm very confident, but thinking resting Yann is prob the right call

[IceIceGylfi]

oxf*rd me, Mendes!

[Winchester Royal]

1-0 get in.

[Libertine]

Mendes! GTFI...

[3points]

Free parking a mile and a half from the ground. And Nando's

http://m.starcitycentre.co.uk

Known locally as Stab City

[RoyalBlue]

It's a bit of a nervous start from Reading keeper Ali Al-Habsi.

He gives the ball away and it's all rather messy to be honest, but the Oman international eventually gathers the ball.

Let's hope he quickly gets over those nerves, he's been looking a lot more comfortable with the ball recently and we need him on top form again today.

I suspect Jaap was the only one not surprised by Mendes!

[3points]

Nice one Ian

[Ian Royal]

Nice one Ian

Pleasure,

[Jackson Corner]

That didn't last long

[bcubed]

Balls

[Ian Royal]

We wouldn't have conceded if someone other than Mendes scored.

[RoyalBlue]

It's a bit of a nervous start from Reading keeper Ali Al-Habsi.

He gives the ball away and it's all rather messy to be honest, but the Oman international eventually gathers the ball.

Let's hope he quickly gets over those nerves, he's been looking a lot more comfortable with the ball recently and we need him on top form again today.

Oh dear! Hope I didn't tempt that:

Ali Al-Habsi goes from hero to zero for the away side.

First he makes a fantastic save from a Mile Jedinak effort, pushing the ball clear for a corner.

But from the resulting set-piece the Reading keeper comes rushing out and gets nowhere near the ball, with Villa captain James Chester heading home a leveller.

[bcubed]

What's happening?!

[marlowuk]

Mendes goal was the first Villa have conceded at home for 6 matches.

[RoyalBlue]

According to the Beeb, Grabban set Mendes up for his goal and has just set him up again with an absolute sitter that somehow Mendes misses!

[Kitsondinho]

Is anyone else concerned that Mendes scored as the world hurtles towards nuclear apocalypse?? The doomsday clock is surely seconds from midnight now.....

[RoyalBlue]

Oh dear, and then Grabban also wastes a good chance.