28 April 2017
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Wigan Athletic visit the Madejski Stadium this Saturday afternoon in a game with huge significance for both sides. A point for the Royals will guarantee a play-off finish at the end of the season. Meanwhile, only a win is good enough for Wigan who need a maximum six points from their two remaining games to have any chance of staying up.
The Latics look set for League 1 football next season unless they can pull off a great escape which will also need Birmingham and Blackburn to lose their remaining games. The Royals could also be set for the play-offs regardless of results in our last two games with a six point cushion between us and seventh placed Leeds United. Whatever the result on Saturday there is a reasonable chance both sides will have their fate confirmed giving a contrast of emotions in the ground.
Reading will be looking to follow up their 3-0 away victory at Wigan in November. The margin of that win is massive compared to the majority of our victories this season and we will be hoping that home advantage will increase our chances of picking up the full six points from Wigan this season. Reading were 2-0 up at Wigan after just five minutes thanks to two goals from Gareth McCleary. McCleary should be back in the starting line-up this weekend to give him a chance at finding the net again.
Yann Kermorgant sealed that win at Wigan with a second half penalty to make it 3-0. Kermorgant enters this games on an amazing run of form having scored 7 goals in the last 7 games. What is even more impressive is he hasn't started all of those fixtures. Kermorgant has discovered his best form of the season at exactly the right time - and we will all be hoping the entire team follows suit with two going before entering the decisive play-off fixtures.
The injury list for Reading looks familiar with Tiago Illori, Paul McShane and Joey van den Berg all likely to miss out. Otherwise Jaap Stam has plenty of players available for selection, and it will be interesting to see if he mixes things up ahead of the play-offs or goes full strength to secure a best possible Championship finish for the Royals.
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