News and Views
More Injury Concerns Ahead Of Cardiff Trip
06 November 2015
By Hob Nob Anyone?
The Royals have more injuries to contend with ahead of their tough away trip to Cardiff City this weekend. Reading will be hunting to break their winless run which extended to four games after Tuesday night's 2-2 home draw with Huddersfield. Reading were firm favourites to win against Huddersfield but looked very much out of sorts during a first half in which they conceeded two poor goals. The half time break saw Steve Clarke made a double substitution, which helped Reading to dominate the second half. Despite Ola John's excellent equaliser Reading left it too late to pick up a win and had to settle for a draw.
The Royals will already be missing Stephen Quinn, Aaron Tshibola and Hal Robson-Kanu but have additional injury concerns. Both Ferdinand and McShane appeared to take knocks against Huddersfield. Although both players continued after picking themselves up, it could well leave the door open for Michael Hector to return in the centre of defence after being dropped in favour of Ferdinand on Tuesday night. Jordan Obita was picked ahead of Andrew Taylor on Tuesday but could find himself swapped back out again as Steve Clarke shuffles his side which struggled badly in the opening forty-five minutes against Huddersfield. Taylor would welcome the chance to return at left back and face his previous club.
Two players who made serious claims for starting places were Alex Fernandez and Ola John who impressed after appearing from the bench. Piazon had another lightweight showing and could well see himself out of the side.
Last season was an even affair between the two sides with Reading losing away in the league, drawing at home in the Championship and winning at Cardiff in the FA Cup. Norwood and Robson-Kanu scored for the Royals on that day. Norwood should be involved but Robson-Kanu will of course be missing. Howver, Kenwyne Jones, who scored for Cardiff in that Cup tie, is likely to be back in their line-up this weekend after recovering from injury to feature in their 0-1 defeat at Leeds midweek.
Leeds are also on a winless run having gone three games without a win. Their last victory was against Middlesbrough four matches ago, and since then they've drawn two and lost one without scoring a single goal. Cardiff have only found the net 15 times so far in their 15 league matches, compared to Reading's 23, however Cardiff have also conceeded three less goals and have the fifth best defence in the Division. Cardiff are two points and two places behind the Royals in ninth.
Reading fans traveling to Cardiff will be able to buy tickets on the day. Tickets are priced at £25 for adults down to £15 for children.
| Reading and Cardiff - Head to head record (since August 1994) | |
| Games Between Reading and Cardiff | 26 |
| Reading Wins | 7 |
| Cardiff Wins | 9 |
| Draws | 10 |
| Reading Goals | 37 |
| Cardiff Goals | 35 |
| Average Goals Per Game | 2.77 |
Share this article: