The new Champions are at Burnley

Making predictions in football can be a difficult task, but this is a safe bet, although I never suspected it would be like that when they beat us at the Madejski Stadium back in August. On that day they were somewhat fortunate to get all three points, it was a game we could have even won, but they won it 2-1 and we ended the game with Wayne Thomas stretchered off and Garreth O’Connor sent off.

It was only the sixth game of the season, but the win took Reading second behind Sheffield United whilst the Clarets were floundering near the bottom. They had been beaten just once, on the opening day of the season at home to Plymouth, and it would be some time before they suffered defeat again.

They’ve not been outside the top two since. They remained in that second place until late November when a 3-0 win at Ipswich saw them go top, and that is the position they have held since. And it was only two weeks ago that they were beaten again, this time a 3-2 defeat at Luton.

Manager Steve Coppell has been somewhat fortunate with injuries this season, we all know the benefit of a big squad but to date only sixteen different players have started league games for the Royals this season. They are a side that have a great deal of experience playing together with most of the side having been together a while, only two of the strikers Kevin Doyle and Leroy Lita are new to the regular starting line up.

Coppell strengthened his squad in the January window – bringing in young Bristol City defender Scott Golbourne and the highly rated John Halls from Stoke. Such has been the consistency of the side that neither of these two players have featured in the league team although Halls did make two FA Cup appearances when they fielded weakened teams.

If there’s a bit of hope for the Clarets it is that Reading haven’t found winning away from home just as easy recently – since Boxing Day they have won just once in seven away games, that one a 4-3 win at Crewe.

Click HERE to see all Reading’s results this season.

There’s a familiar face in the Reading squad and a very familiar face and it is looking very likely that the familiar face, John Oster, will play on the right hand side with the very familiar face of Glen Little ruled out with a groin injury.

From what I’ve seen this season, Glen has been back to the sort of form that deserted him for much of his last two years at Burnley, but he’s missed the last two games and is rated very doubtful for this one with a groin injury. But he’ll be here, his son Kieron, a miniature version without any doubt, is the Reading mascot and will lead the teams out.

Another doubt is influential midfielder Steve Sidwell who has been struggling with a dead leg and he, along with Little, is expected to sit this one out. Model Carlo Nash did his best to ensure Dave Kitson, we are not allowed to mention his ginger hair, would not be playing after crashing into him last week and leaving him very dazed and unable to continue. But he’s been passed fit and is expected to start.

Without Little and without Sidwell, Reading are expected to line up: Marcus Hahnemann, Graeme Murty, Ibrahima Sonko, Ivar Ingimarsson, Nicky Shorey, John Oster, Brynjar Gunnarsson, James Harper, Bobby Convey, Dave Kitson, Kevin Doyle. Subs from: Graham Stack, John Halls, Chris Makin, Steve Hunt, Leroy Lita, Shane Long.

Click HERE to see the full Reading squad.

Steve Cotterill welcomes back two defenders from suspension. Wayne Thomas is back after missing two games whilst John McGreal was out for just the game at Coventry. Certainly one of them will return, with Michael Duff expected to go back to the full back position.

Elsewhere, Garreth O’Connor is still ruled out with an ankle ligament injury and with Graham Branch being forced off last week with a hamstring injury it could pave the way for a first start in the first team for American Danny Karbassiyoon.

Danny got over half a game last week at Coventry but is expected to be on the field from the beginning this week. Assistant manager Dave Kevan said of him, “He’s a good lad and he’s been a little unfortunate that he hasn’t played more football at first team level. But whether it’s for five or ten minutes or a full game, he needs to take the opportunity.

“He trains well and is a pleasure on the training ground. He goes about his football properly and goes about his work enthusiastically and he deserves an opportunity.”

That suggest Danny will start and I think we could line up something like: Brian Jensen, Michael Duff, Frank Sinclair, John McGreal, Jon Harley, John Spicer, James O’Connor, Micah Hyde, Chris McCann, Danny Karbassiyoon, Michael Ricketts. Subs from: Mark Crossley, Duane Courtney, Wayne Thomas, Wade Elliott, Gifton Noel-Williams, Kyle Lafferty.

It was the first home game of 2005 and was our first game following the sale of Robbie Blake. It proved to be a poor game with the two sides cancelling each other out and neither ever looking like scoring a goal.

There’s more on this, and other previous games against the Royals, in We’ve won 3-0 which is in the A Look Back section. The teams just over a year ago were,

Burnley: Brian Jensen, Frank Sinclair, Gary Cahill, John McGreal, Mo Camara, Michael Duff (Lee Roche 33), Richard Chaplow, Tony Grant, James O’Connor, Graham Branch (Jean-Louis Valois 45), Ian Moore. Subs not used: Danny Coyne, Paul Scott, Matt O’Neill.

Reading: Marcus Hahnemann, Graeme Murty, Ibrahima Sonko, Ivar Ingimarsson, Nicky Shorey, Glen Little, Steve Sidwell, James Harper, Andy Hughes, Bobby Convey, Nicky Forster. Subs not used: Jamie Young, Rob Newman, Lloyd Owusu, Bas Savage, Paul Brooker.