News and Views

Fulham Visit Reading As League Action Returns

12 September 2014
By Hob Nob Anyone?

Reading return to league action this weekend after a two week break thanks to International fixtures. Fulham will be the visitors at the Madejski Stadium, and they will be looking to turn around a terrible start to the season that follows their relegation from the Premier League. Fulham have picked up just a single point from their opening five fixtures - that was a 1-1 home draw against Cardiff two weeks ago. The Cottagers started the season with straight league defeats against Ipswich, Millwall, Wolves, and a 1-5 away thrashing at Derby County. In those five games Fulham have scored just three goals - although they can add one goal on for their 1-0 League Cup victory away at Brentford.

The Royals had hoped that the long break would help reduce the size of their huge injury list and make some players available for selection again. However, the news is that Anton Ferdinand, who was ruled out before due to a lack of match fitness, is now on that injury list due to a hamstring injury. He is expected to be unavailable for at least 4 weeks. Shaun Cummings is out for even longer after his knee surgery that followed his injury at Scunthorpe in the League Cup. Stephen Kelly, Hal Robson-Kanu, Nick Blackman and Craig Tanner are all unlikely to be involved due to injury, but Danny Guthrie is back in training and may make the subs bench. Some rare good news is that Reading will have a new player who is expected to play - striker Glenn Murray who arrived on loan on transfer deadline day from Crystal Palace is expected to make his debut. Adam Federici will of course be in goal as he is set to make his 200th start for Reading.

Reading's last home game against Fulham was in the Premier League back in October 2012. Leigertwood, McCleary and Robson-Kanu scored the goals in a 3-3 draw after the game was just 1-0 at half time. It's highly likely that out of the 14 players involved for Reading that day, just two years ago, none will be involved for the Royals this time as they have either moved on haven't returned from injury. During the same season the Royals picked up a 4-2 away victory at Fulham - so what is expected to be the Madejski Stadium's biggest crowd of the season so far will be hoping for plenty of goals.

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