Venue: Madejski Stadium
Date: Wednesday, 30 January
Kick-off: 20.00
If you’re an eternal optimist and negativity infuriates you, you might as well stop reading right there and go and find yourself something written by our fellow supporters with their heads in the sand, because you won’t get anything from the realms of la la land on here.
We were dire against Brentford, we looked as clueless as a Scouser in the jobcentre – and don’t even get me started on the substitutions again. I mean, looking for a goal and we swap right-backs?! Just priceless!
So, Reading with four wins on the bounce going into tonight’s game, must be delighted at the timing of this one. I suppose the only fly in that ointment could be that we’ve won our last four away.
MANAGER’S VIEW
Going into tonight, Reading manager doesn’t seem to have much to say about the game itself, although unlike his counterpart, he seems a thoroughly happy chappy, saying “The first time I came across Rafa was in the FA Cup in one of the first games I was involved in as caretaker, and we spoke after the game. He’s a top manager. He did a fantastic job at Liverpool and in Spain. He’s working with a group of players, but it’s not my business. The only business I’ve got is Reading, and it’s important we do our stuff. We’re getting there, we’re working really hard with the group. We’re getting better and we’re enjoying the challenge.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Reading, Roberts (hip) is out, Hunt (unspecified) faces a fitness test and new signing Daniel Carrico is unlikely to feature.
For Chelsea, Romeu remains out long-term, Petr Cech and David Luiz (both calf) won’t make it back and Eden Hazard serves the second of his three-game ban.
TEAMS
READING (Possible line-up): Federici, Gunter, Mariappa, Pearce, Harte, Kebe, Leigertwood, Karacan, McAnuff, Guthrie, Pogrebnyak
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Turnbull, Ivanovic, Cahill, JT, Cole, Ramires, Lampard, Oscar, Betrand, Mata, Torres
LAST MEETING
Chelsea 4-2 Reading (22nd August 2012)
PREDICTION
Grab a goal or two before half time and concede a goal or two because we can’t be arsed to play for 90 minutes, or alternatively, go a goal or two down and end up scrapping for one or two back. Would either scenario really be that much of a surprise anymore?
Blue is the colour
