Royals Hope To Stay Unbeaten At Fulham

16 January 2015
By Hob Nob Anyone?

Reading travel to Fulham this weekend as Steve Clarke's team look to make it five consecutive games without a defeat. Since Clarke's opening game in charge, the 0-1 home defeat to Watford, we've drawn two and won two in League and Cup. Last weekend the Royals put in a decent showing at home to Middlesbrough but neither side could find the net as it finished 0-0. There were some good performances in that match - but none better than Reading keeper Adam Federici who didn't put a foot or glove wrong all match and pulled off a blinding save near the end to earn Reading a point.

Reading and Fulham are next to each other in the table in 17th and 18th place - but there was a big gap between the two sides earlier in the season as Reading had a reasonable start and Fulham found themselves rooted to the bottom of the table. Fulham have made a recovery since then to move out of the bottom three - but their last three Championship games have seen three straight defeats. Fulham have failed to score a goal in those last three league games - which should give Reading plenty of hope of picking up some points.

It will be interesting to see the team Clarke puts out in front of a huge away following. Pogrebnyak started last weekend but was disappointing and Blackman will hope for more involvement at Fulham. Garath McCleary, who has been missing for a month with injury, could make a return. Otherwise there is unlikely to be any big changes. Obviously Ferdinand is still ruled out through injury as his total Reading career remains on a grand total of just 45 minutes.

Recent games between Fulham and Reading have tended to include plenty of goals. Earlier this season we recorded a 3-0 home win at the Madejski Stadium. During the 2012/2013 Premier League season we were 4-2 winners at Craven Cottage and drew 3-3 at home. Reading have the upper hand in the most recent meetings between the sides but over the last 20 years the record is even with four wins each. Each side have scored 14 goals over the last 9 fixtures.

• Reading -v- Fulham - Recent history

Reading and Fulham - Head to head record (since August 1994)
Games Between Reading and Fulham	9
Reading Wins	4
Fulham Wins	4
Draws	1
Reading Goals	14
Fulham Goals	14
Average Goals Per Game	3.11

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