Reading will host Newcastle United this weekend at the Madejski Stadium, with the Royals still in search of their first win in the Premier League.
Reading suffered another defeat at the Hawthorns against West Brom in 1-0 score line. This was followed by an exit from the Capital One Cup at the hands of Queens Park http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Rangers-c40314. Manager Brian McDermott will however find consolation in the fact that his team
put in an impressive performance at the Hawthorns and came close to salvaging a draw on more than one occasion.
Newcastle, fresh from the victory against Norwich City, will be hoping to bounce back from their Capital One Cup exit at the hands of Manchester United. With strikers http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alan-c4244 Pardew will be hoping his side are able
to grab all three points.
Reading
Expected starting line up:
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Pavel-Pogrebnyak-c29501, Adam Le Fondre.
First choice goalkeeper Adam Federici is still out of the team with an injury. Reading are expected to field out the same team that lose 1-0 at the Hawthorns against West Brom.
Pogrebnyak remains their greatest asset up front, with the Russian striker having had an impressive season in the Premier League last term with Fulham.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Danny-c10193 Guthrie faces his old team as he starts in midfield. The player will be looking forward to getting a win after having fallen down the pecking order at Tyneside last season and subsequently moving to Reading.
Brian McDermott will be hopeful his side can score early and hold on to the lead. With Reading’s poor form and defensive frailties against Newcastle’s solid midfield, it may prove to be a tough task.
Newcastle United
Expected starting line-up:
Steve Harper, James Perch, Mike Williamson, Steven Taylor, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jonas-c18967 Gutierrez, Demba Ba.
Alan Pardew welcomed back first choice goalkeeper Tim Krul and captain Fabricio Coloccini back to the squad this week, with the latter making a start in the league cup defeat to Manchester United. The likes of Danny Simpson and Ryan Taylor are however still
sidelined.
Coloccini is expected on the bench, with the player still not deemed a 100 per cent fit to start the game. Krul may be also on the bench, as Pardew is not willing to take any risks with the goalkeeper by providing him an immediate start.
Cheick Tiote is also a welcome addition to the squad, with the midfield enforcer putting in an impressive performance against United at Old Trafford. The Ivorian has been badly missed by the Magpies, who lacked steel and bite in the centre during his absence.
Demba Ba’s impressive goal scoring form will restrict Cisse to the bench, despite the striker getting his first goal of the season in the Capital One Cup defeat.
Prediction
Newcastle’s squad looks good on paper, and may prove to possess more quality than the Royals.
With the likes of Ben Arfa, Cabaye and Tiote in midfield, they will have the edge over Reading and dominate possession. I predict a 1-2 score line, with Demba Ba bagging a brace against Reading.
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