MATCHWATCH : Cardiff City (h) sponsored by Severn Bridge Sewage

[Sutekh]

TEAM NEWS

Reading

Other than the long term absentee, Aaron Tshibola, Deniss Rakels is a doubt with a hamstring injury while Lucas Piazon has been ill recently so may not be available either.

Big Jake is back from suspension and may resume duties in central defence.

Cardiff City

Goalkeeper David Marshall faces a late fitness test having missed training this week with an illness.

If he fails to recover, Simon Moore will continue to deputise.

Danish striker Kenneth Zohore is out with a hamstring problem, but Fabio (groin) and Peter Whittingham (hamstring) are expected to return.

THE REFEREE

Lincolnshire's very own Darren Drysdale



Previously

11 Aug 2015 > Colchester United 0-1 Reading (League Cup)
06 Apr 2012 > Reading 2-0 Leeds United
30 Apr 2006 > Reading 2-1 Queen's Park Rangers

[Sutekh]

Al habsi, gunter, cooper, mcshane, taylor, john, hrk, kermorgant, hector, quinn, williams

Subs - bond, vydra, obita, ferdinand, norwood, mcleary, cox

[Royal Ginger]

No queue for buses, traffic very light where it's normally terrible, attendance is going to be dreadful.

[strap]

[quote="Sutekh"]
THE REFEREE

Italy's very own Benito Mussolini

[Ian Royal]

HRK off injured, McCleary on.

[tidus_mi2]

Fair play to the cardiff fans doing the Wales HRK chant when he went off

[Ian Royal]

McCleary scores from Kermie knockdown off a John cross.

[Libertine]

McCleary! GTFI...

[Ian Royal]

John wide 1on1 from Kermie's chip to put him in.

[furthest flung fan]

Can we get more flow into this thread guys? Its nearly halftime and no real comments yet about the game. You are our eyes and our ears. Would love to hear more...

[Ian Royal]

It's been a bit stolid, but Reading have had two or three good chances and put one away. Cardiff have had chances too though.

[howser]

Anyone know what has happened to the lad Evans ? seems to have gone completely off the radar of late ?

[Royal Ginger]

He played at Huddersfield but isn't better than Hector. I think that's it really.

Bryn just did the golden gamble. Let's grab him as assistant manager whilst he's here

[Ian Royal]

He played at Huddersfield but isn't better than Hector. I think that's it really.

Bryn just did the golden gamble. Let's grab him as assistant manager whilst he's here

Potentially a bit of a Convey going on here. McDermott may not want to introduce him in a team that's struggling when he can try and keep him at arms length from the problems and introduce him off a more positive pre-season with a fresh start to a new season.

I get the feeling he was a signing with a view to the longer term anyway given we have Williams, Quinn and Norwood at the mo (plus Hector)

[Ian Royal]

Vydra on for Kermie - settled back into fairly even so far.

Makes sense, Cardiff likely to be pushing forward, Vydra better able to take advantage of a higher line and space on the break.

[seahawk10]

I believe that we will win!

[Ian Royal]

1-1 suspicion of handball early in the move according to Dellor. Post from a deflection and back out to Cardiff to finish.

[Libertine]

Damn it...

[Ian Royal]

1-0 is never comfortable for this side. Concede an equaliser and they're likely to fall to pieces. We've had the chances to put it out of sight.


Keeper saves from Vydra.

[Ian Royal]

There's just no belief or conviction that we can change the game and win is there. There's not a single player in our side that you can rely on to positively change a game.

John has little end product and can't last 90
McCleary is woefully out of form
Vydra is woefully short on confidence and form
Cox has never been prolific or a game changer
Williams is far more likely to shoot 10 yards high and wide
Piazon is lightweight and inconsistent
Kermorgant never looks like finishing his dinner
HRK has little end product
Norwood has awful set pieces
Rakelss looks lightweight and short of end product


1-1 FT