News and Views
Relegation Battle Continues At Southampton
07 December 2012
By Hob Nob Anyone?
The crunch games are coming thick and fast for Reading in their quest to survive in the Premier League this season. Having already lost to two sides immediately above us in the table, Aston Villa and Wigan Athletic, in consecutive games - it's time for the same again. Villa and Wigan's victories helped move them up the table and away from Reading and now Southampton and Sunderland are threatening to do the same again. Southampton, one place above Reading, will see Reading visit on Saturday, while Reading then travel to Sunderland on Tuesday in the re-arranged fixture that was postponed earlier this season. Another two defeats in these games will be catastrophic and see Reading at least six points adrift in the relegation postitions with not much less than half of the season gone.
Despite last weekend's defeat at Liverpool, Southampton have been on a decent run of form, unlike Reading. Southampton's last two home games have seen a draw against resurgent Norwich and a 2-0 victory over Newcastle. Reading, of course, are yet to pick up a win away from home in the league all season. Reading's injury list reads the same as for previous fixtures with Kebe and Karacan still unlikely to return to action. Pogrebnyak is also now out of action after getting injured in Reading Reserve's friendly defeat against Stevenage. Reading lost 0-2 at home in that game despite fielding half a first team. Meanwhile, Alex McCarthy has had a successful operation on his shoulder but is unlikely to return for many months giving Federici an extended run to prove himself in the top flight.
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