Royals Face Wigan In Relegation Clash

22 February 2013
By Hob Nob Anyone?

After Monday night's FA Cup exit against Manchester United, Reading return to Premier League action this weekend as relegation rivals Wigan Athletic visit the Madejski Stadium. Reading boss Brian McDermott has dismissed the concept of a "six-pointer" in the press, but there's no getting round the fact the games don't much more crucial that this. Losing three points against Wigan would see Reading back to second from bottom with only QPR below them in the table. A defeat would make our previous excellent run seem a distant memory and install us back as favourites, with QPR, for the drop. A victory would maintain a run of form that has seen just one defeat in five league games, and could take Reading back out of the bottom three. If Reading are staying up you can't help think we have to win this one.

Earlier this season, in November, Reading were defeated 2-3 at Wigan when Reading were on the receiving end of a late goal as Wigan grabbed a last minute winner. Reading were already in the bottom three at that stage of the season while Wigan were clear of the drop zone. Wigan's fortunes have changed since then - they have only one a single league game since and that was last year when they won at Aston Villa. Wigan find themselves deep in relegation trouble after picking up just 3 points from 6 League games in 2013. That compares with Reading's haul of 10 points from the same number of games this year. It's a rare fixture where Reading might be seen as favourites to win a league game but plenty of pundits are predicting an away win for this one. Looking back through history at the head to head record, Reading and Wigan each have seven wins since 1994. However, Reading have won both of the last two games at the Madejski Stadium - both in the Premier League.

• Reading -v- Wigan - Recent meetings

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