MX23RW : Monday, November 25 19:12:04| >> :120:34081:34081:
[monks data]
Norwich logo
Championship
Nov 29, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Reading logo

1-2

Hooper (10')
FT(HT: 1-2)
Cooper (14', 45')

Preview: Norwich City vs. Reading

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between Norwich and Reading at Carrow Road.

Norwich City will be looking to get their playoff challenge back on track when they host Reading at Carrow Road this Saturday.

The Canaries have suffered a torrid November with two defeats and a draw from their three matches so far this month, conceding nine goals in the process.

Defeats to promotion rivals Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest were particularly damaging, while they would have been expecting more than a solitary point against Brighton & Hove Albion last time out.

That match saw Gary Hooper rescue a late draw for his side in a six-goal thriller, although there was disappointment late on as Bradley Johnson saw red in stoppage time.

Johnson will therefore be suspended this weekend, but Hooper's strike could be enough for him to come into the starting lineup in place of the misfiring Lewis Grabban.

Alex Tettey is a doubt after he picked up a knock in the draw with Brighton, although Canaries boss Neil Adams is hopeful that the midfielder will pass a late fitness test.

It is now just one win in nine for Norwich, although they are unbeaten in their last four meetings with Reading, winning twice and drawing twice.

The Royals will not be too confident about ending that winless streak this weekend given their recent form. They have lost their last two matches and now sit just three points clear of the relegation zone.

Indeed, they have been beaten eight times in their last 12 matches in all competitions, with their only two victories in that time coming against teams currently in the bottom three.

Only struggling duo Blackpool and Bolton Wanderers have picked up fewer points on the road this season, with Reading losing six of their nine away games, including their last four in a row.

Under-fire manager Nigel Adkins has Garath McCleary and Anton Ferdinand back available after injury, while Shaun Cummings is also nearing a return, but Danny Guthrie and Jem Karacan remain long-term absentees.

He will also be without Alex Pearce this weekend after the defender was unsuccessful in his appeal against the red he received during the defeat to Cardiff City last time out.

Norwich:

Recent form: DDWLLD

Possible starting lineup: Ruddy; Martin, Turner, Hooiveld, Olsson; Redmond, Tettey, Howson, O'Neil; Hooper, Jerome

Reading:

Recent form: LWLWLL

Possible starting lineup: Federici; Kelly, Hector, Ferdinand, Hector; Robson-Kanu, Norwood, Williams, Obita; Murray, Cox

Sports Mole says: 3-2


ID:190409: cacheID:190409:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6070:No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Nigel Adkins manager of Reading prior to the Sky Bet Championship match between Reading and Fulham at Madejski Stadium on September 13, 2014
Read Next:
Preview: Blackburn vs. Reading
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds1695228121632
2Sunderland1695226121432
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1610422191232
4Burnley168621961330
5Middlesbrough1683529191027
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom166821811726
7Watford168262524126
8Millwall166641914524
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
10Bristol City165742020022
11Derby CountyDerby165562020020
12Stoke CityStoke165561920-120
13Norwich CityNorwich164752524119
14Swansea CitySwansea165471414019
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds165471826-819
16Luton TownLuton165381826-818
17Coventry CityCoventry164572223-117
18Oxford UnitedOxford Utd164571924-517
19Plymouth ArgylePlymouth164571728-1117
20Preston North EndPreston163761624-816
21Cardiff CityCardiff164481524-916
22Hull City163671621-515
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR161871326-1311


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!