News and Views

McDermott Leaves Tricky Trip To Hull To Kuhl

16 December 2015
By Hob Nob Anyone?

Martin Kuhl will take his Reading side to third placed Hull City tonight in what is expected to be his last match in charge, before Reading confirm the return of Brian McDermott as permanent manager. Kuhl will have stood in for two matches after the dismissal of Steve Clarke but is expected to make way later this week for the return of McDermott. Brian McDermott has cunningly avoided two difficult away fixtures, that would have been a tough start to his managerial return, and will instead start with a home fixture against mid-table Blackburn Rovers just before Christmas.

Reading almost have nothing to lose tonight as they travel to Hull. Everyone is expecting another Reading loss to add the current run of three consecutive defeats. Anything other than a defeat will be seen as a very good return as a Reading side low in confidence attempt to stop the slide down the Championship table. Hull are firm favourites for the victory at 5/6, with Reading 4/1 to pull off a shock away win. The draw is 5/2.

Last weekend Reading put in a very poor performance at Preston but went down to just a single goal from the penalty spot after a clumsy challenge from Paul McShane who was back in the starting eleven after injury. McShane is expecting to continue in the side tonight and face his old club for the first time since leaving for Reading in the summer, but his fellow former Hull player Stephen Quinn will miss out due to his extended injury. Jordan Obita will also be unavailable for selection after picking up an injury in training that will rule him out of fixtures over the festive period.

The Royals have won just a single match against Hull in their last six attempts - and that was a 3-1 home victory, over 10 years ago, way back in November 2005. Bobby Convey, Keven Doyle and Glen Little were on the scoresheet as Reading sat in second place in the Championship. That has been followed by two 1-1 draw and then two single goal defeats. Our last match at Hull was in August 2011 when a late goal for the home side was enough to defeat Brian McDermott's side who had got off to a poor start to the season.

Reading and Hull City - Head to head record (since August 1994)
Games Between Reading and Hull City 6
Reading Wins 1
Hull City Wins 2
Draws 3
Reading Goals 6
Hull City Goals 6
Average Goals Per Game 2
Average Score Reading 1 Hull City 1  

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