Royals Go To Norwich After Three Straight Wins

By Hob Nob Anyone?

Reading travel to Norwich City this weekend after a run of three straight league wins that has made a play-off finish more likely than not. The Royals are now nine points clear of seventh placed Fulham with just six games of the season remaining. Any points at Norwich this weekend will go a long way towards making the play-offs a certainty, especially with home games against Wigan and Rotherham still to come for Reading. After a dip in form, the Royals seem to be coming good at just the right time as the season enters it's final stages. Norwich have been inconsistent all season and mid-table is now looking more likely for them.

The last time the two sides met was on Boxing Day at the Madejski Stadium when Reading were helped by Norwich midfielder Jonny Howson getting sent off shortly after the visitors had equalised to make it 1-1. McCleary stuck home the spot-kick rebound to make it 2-1 before Harriott wrapped up the three points with a late third goal for the Royals.

Harriott will be missing this time as he remains out through injury. Rakels is still yet to make an appearance after returning from injury and may be hoping to get some match action before the season wrap up. Paul McShane and Joey van den Berg may both be back available for selection but Stam may keep Tiago Ilori involved again after he returned from injury during Tuesday night's 3-1 victory over Blackburn. Jordan Obita could also miss out due to minor injury.

Norwich have let in five goals in their last two games, without scoring, and will have a big boost with defenders Mitchell Dijks and Ivo Pinto back in action. Both players have been out due to suspensions which ended after their 0-3 away defeat against Huddersfield Town on Wednesday night. Norwich have suffered with their away form but this promises to be a difficult game for the Royals.

At home Norwich are unbeaten in nine games, which has included some big wins and a 2-2 draw with table toppers Newcastle United. Norwich still have a slim chance of getting in the play-offs but that is looking increasingly unlikely. Should Norwich fail to beat Reading their season will effectively be over and caretaker manager Alan Irvine will probably be pleased to hand the reins over.

Recent Meetings With Norwich City

DATE	COMPETITION	OPPOSITION	SCORE	REPORT
26 December 2016	Championship	Norwich (HOME)	W: 3-1	Read report...
28 December 2014	Championship	Norwich (HOME)	W: 2-1	Read report...
29 November 2014	Championship	Norwich (Away)	W: 2-1	Read report...
20 April 2013	Premier League	Norwich (Away)	L: 1-2	Read report...
10 November 2012	Premier League	Norwich (HOME)	D: 0-0	Read report...
12 February 2011	Championship	Norwich (Away)	L: 1-2	Read report...
13 November 2010	Championship	Norwich (HOME)	D: 3-3	Read report...
27 April 2009	Championship	Norwich (Away)	W: 2-0	Read report...
13 December 2008	Championship	Norwich (HOME)	W: 2-0	Read report...

From the Discussion

SU Sutekh 6 Apr 2017 · 9:32am

Carrow Road is the next venue for the Reading play off bandwagon as its inexorable roll continues. Wish I could say it heartlessly flattens everything in its way but it just, well, doesn’t. Nevertheless when the wheels do fall off the whole procession just carries on by tubthumping Norwich are a very erratic team more than capable of beating anyone in this division on their day but have sadly, for them, lurched from highs to lows fairly regularly throughout the season and only rarely shown why they were considered one of the bookies favourites for the title in pre and early season. Though their season is now more or less dead and… More →
GF Gunny Fishcake 7 Apr 2017 · 10:21am

Tough game , very, will blissfully take a draw of any sort
RW royalp-we 7 Apr 2017 · 11:21pm

We haven't won a Saturday afternoon away game since Blackburn in December. Probably about time we won one, right?
IR Ian Royal 8 Apr 2017 · 9:10am

Would this be the first time we'd won four on the bounce this season? I reckon draw.
PL Platypuss 8 Apr 2017 · 9:19am

No.
IR Ian Royal 8 Apr 2017 · 10:40am

Oh yeah, Forest, Wigan, Burton, Bristol. Thanks.
PL Platypuss 8 Apr 2017 · 11:12am

Plus Rotherham before those if you count league only.
TF Top Flight 8 Apr 2017 · 11:16am

If we show the same intensity as we did in the Leeds game I think we'll win this one. I'm backing our boys to stay strong. Norwich 0 Reading 2.
RJ Royal_jimmy 8 Apr 2017 · 1:24pm

Another one of those away shockers is on the horizon Norwich 3-0 Reading
RA Royals and Racers 8 Apr 2017 · 1:53pm

Reading starting XI vs Norwich: Al-Habsi, Gunter (c), Blackett, Moore, Oxford, Swift, Kelly, Mutch, McCleary, Grabban, Kermorgant Reading subs vs Norwich: Jaakkola, Mendes, Obita, Williams, Popa, Gravenberch, Watson.
EM Emeraldroyal 8 Apr 2017 · 2:35pm

Naaah not today. Norwich are a decent side at home but I genuinely think we've matured hugely over the last few games. 0-0 and I'd take that too.
MA marlowuk 8 Apr 2017 · 2:49pm

No place for Ilori in the squad. Is he injured too?

Read all the discussion →