A trip to a very good Derby County beckons. Don't what it is but the combination of County and Steve McClaren seems to make for a very good team and one more than capable of promotion this season. It took a last minute goal from George Evans to even get a point off Derby at home earlier this season and that was well before they turned into the much better team that they are today.
The game is likely to be low scoring as Derby have had a problem hitting the net during the course of the season, however they are very effective at defending and their current home record now stands at eight successive clean sheets (the last goal they conceded at home in the league was in a 2-1 defeat against Blackburn Rovers on 24th September). They've only let in 5 at home all season.
Only two of Derby's ex-Reading contingent are fit (Nick Blackman is injured) though it is likely that only Vydra will play some part and that from the bench. Derby have a doubt over new signing David Nugent with a minor knee injury while Cyrus Christie, Marcus Olsson and Ikechi Anya are unlikely to feature after just returning from injury. Bradley Johnson and, thankfully, Jacob Butterfield are both suspended and defender Max Lowe is injured.
Reading's injury worries are Ansii Jaakkola (knee), Callum Harriott (hamstring) and long term absentee Stephen Quinn. Don't know what has happened to Deniss Rakels, it was reported he had returned to training but there has been no sign of him yet so perhaps he's still struggling with injury. Paul McShane could well return to the team though after his enforced lay off due to a wrist problem. New signing Tiago Ilori should also be in the squad and Stam says he has no worries about playing him despite the long gap since the player's last competitive game. Really no idea what our management team will do in terms of team selection, they could go for four at the back and stick Ilori on the bench or it is conceivable we'll start with a back five. Whatever they do it'll be some trick to nullify the likes of Tom Ince and Will Hughes.
Referee
Merseyside's Peter Bankes will be the official official for the encounter
Three previous games :
30 Jan 2016 > Reading 4-0 Walsall (FA Cup)
20 Dec 2015 > Reading 1-0 Blackburn Rovers
08 Aug 2015 > Birmingham City 2-1 Reading
Historically
Reading have largely had the upper hand in games against Derby registering twice as many wins (22) in all competitions. In the league this game will be the 36th time the two sides have met with all games having been played since 1984 (so, on average, it's been roughly one game a year since then). The return from the 17 previous league trips to Derby is 8 wins, 3 draws and 6 defeats so it is a happier place to hunt for points than most other league grounds.
However, as we all know, on the day history counts for nothing so it's going to be a case of having to dig deep and hope that another horror show, like those which surfaced at Fulham, Brentford, Manchester United and at home to QPR, does not put in another appearance.
