MX23RW : Friday, January 31 14:38:47| >> :120:26397:26397:
[monks data]
Reading logo
Championship
Jan 31, 2015 at 3pm UK
 
Sheffield Wednesday logo

2-0

Pogrebnyak (29'), Chalobah (40')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Preview: Reading vs. Sheffield Wednesday

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between Reading and Sheffield Wednesday at the Madejski Stadium.

Sheffield Wednesday will be looking to return to winning ways when they travel to the Madejski Stadium to take on Reading in the Championship this weekend, their first game since being taken over by a Thai consortium.

Following a run of three straight league victories without conceding a goal, the Owls are now without a win in their last two having been beaten by Bolton Wanderers and drawn 0-0 with Birmingham City.

They are still flying higher than expected in the Championship table, however, sitting ninth in the standings with only nine points separating them from the top six.

A playoff charge is unlikely, but they have established themselves as one of the trickiest teams to play in the league this season. They have conceded just 23 goals in their 27 outings, a tally that only Middlesbrough can better.

It is at the other end where they have struggled, however. Despite Wednesday's relatively lofty league position, no team in the Championship has scored fewer goals than them, with their tally of 21 being the same number as rock-bottom Blackpool.

Curiously, the bulk of their 38 points have come on the road this season, with only league leaders Bournemouth having amassed more than Wednesday's 23 away points. Their two defeats on their travels, meanwhile, is the lowest tally in the division.

It has been a notable week at the club as the Thai takeover was completed, and Stuart Gray will be happy to focus fully on matters on the field now.

Loan signings Lewis Baker and Will Keane both made their full debuts for the club on Tuesday and have been tipped for stardom by Gray, but the latter could make way for Stevie May this weekend.

Reading may have been expecting their position to be reversed with Wednesday's at this point of the season, but the Royals go into the game seven points and nine places behind the Owls.

They are showing signs of improvement under Steve Clarke, however, losing just one of their last seven matches in all competitions, including safely progressing to the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Like Wednesday, they played out a goalless draw in their last outing as they were unable to make the most of a numerical advantage against the 10 men of Millwall.

They remain seven points clear of the relegation zone as a result and, with only three points separating them from the top half, they will be starting to look up the table rather than down it now.

The Royals have only won one of their last five home outings but, after this weekend, will not have to face another side currently in the top 11 of the table at the Madejski until April.

Jamie Mackie is pushing for a recall to the side and could replace Nick Blackman, but Chris Gunter is unlikely to be fit enough to start the match.

Reading:

Form in Championship: LDWDLD
Form in all competitions: WWDLWD

Possible starting lineup: Federici; Kelly, Pearce, Hector, Obita; Williams, Norwood, Chalobah; Mackie, Pogrebnyak, Robson-Kanu

Sheff Weds:

Form in Championship: LWWWLD
Form in all competitions: WWLWLD

Possible starting lineup: Westwood; Palmer, Loovens, Lees, Helan; Maghoma, Baker, Semedo, Maguire; Nuhiu, May

Sports Mole says: 1-2


ID:202181: cacheID:202181:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6197:
Written by
Barney Corkhill
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:
Manchester United's English striker William Keane vies with Blackburn Rovers' Scottish defender Grant Hanley during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England
Read Next:
Gray tips Keane, Baker for Premier League impact
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Birmingham CityBirmingham26186244182660
2Wycombe WanderersWycombe28177454292558
3Wrexham28157641241752
4Huddersfield TownHuddersfield27146739231648
5Stockport CountyStockport28138743281547
6Leyton Orient27135940241644
7Bolton WanderersBolton28135104342144
8Charlton AthleticCharlton2712783426843
9Barnsley28126104139242
10Reading27125104241141
11Lincoln CityLincoln28108103433138
12Mansfield TownMansfield26114113432237
13Blackpool2791083938137
14Rotherham UnitedRotherham27107103231137
15Stevenage2610792324-137
16Wigan AthleticWigan2796122627-133
17Exeter CityExeter2895143242-1032
18Peterborough UnitedPeterborough2886144452-830
19Bristol Rovers2784152543-1828
20Northampton TownNorthampton2869132543-1827
21Burton Albion2859143044-1424
22Crawley TownCrawley2666142646-2024
23Cambridge UnitedCambridge2756162849-2121
24Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury2755172647-2120


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!