MATCHWATCH : Leeds United (a) sponsored by a Peter Lorimer 70mph belter

[Sutekh]

Leeds set to be without Mustafa Carayol and La Bamba. Liam Bridcutt is also a doubt with a thigh problem.

Reading are expected to missing both Obita and Gunter through injury while McShane and Williams are still available pending their FA charge being heard.

Reckon the realistic line up for Reading will be

Al-Habsi
McShane
Cooper
Taylor
Quinn
McLeary
Williams
Norwood
John
Kermorgant
Cox

Subs; Bond, Vydra, Evans, Rakels, Ferdinand, Barrett, Kuhl

So plenty of "lesser" players getting a chance despite the magnificent performances of recent games and so much riding on the result for both clubs.

Refereeing this debacle is Jeremy Simpson from Lanacashire

Mr Simpson last looked after a Reading game in the FA Cup (2-2 v Huddersfield) earlier this season. This will be the first time he has looked after a league fixture for Reading.

[Barney]

Fella. McShane and Williams have 3-match bans.

[Sutekh]

No they have not. They are facing charges from the FA but the bans have not been confirmed as yet as far as I am aware.

The FA gave them until 5pm last night to respond to the charges so by the time they review any responses and sort the paperwork it is more likely to be Hull, QPR and Preston that they miss rather than Leeds, Hull and QPR

Of course if they do get banned at the last minute then Ferdinand will replace McShane and I would expect Evans to finally get a game.

All that happening would make for an interesting bench.

Some late team news however is that Kermogant is likely to miss the game as his wife is about to give birth. Therefore expecting Vydra and Cox to start up front.

Tim Dellor will have a nice quite afternoon then....

[muirinho]

No they have not. They are facing charges from the FA but the bans have not been confirmed as yet as far as I am aware.

.

They have accepted the charges.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36059436

[Sutekh]

No they have not. They are facing charges from the FA but the bans have not been confirmed as yet as far as I am aware.

.

They have accepted the charges.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36059436

Thanks for pointing me to that. So the players in the squad today will be

Al-Habsi
Hector
Ferdinand
Cooper
Taylor
McLeary
John
Norwood
Quinn
Cox
Vydra
Rakels
Bond
Evans
Piazon
Barrett
Kuhl
stuggling to think of the 18th squad member given a supposed injury also to Keown and Ferdnandez would be the 6th loanee

Team selection will be determined by who Brian thinks is the best right back available...

[genome]

Reckon it'll be

Al-Habsi, McCleary, Ferdinand, Cooper, Taylor, Norwood, Evans, Quinn, Piazon, Cox, Vydra

[The Cap]

Ease up Dave. You're giving Sutekh a right battering. Let's hope we don't get one this afternoon.

[Ian Royal]

I think Cooper could do with a break, though now is perhaps not the best time. He's had some issues again recently.

[genome]

Reading starting XI vs Leeds: Al-Habsi (c), McCleary, Taylor, Cooper, Hector, Evans, Norwood, Quinn, Piazon, Vydra, Cox.

Reading subs vs Leeds: Bond, Rakels, Ferdinand, John, Kuhl, Watson, Barrett.

Reckon it'll be

Al-Habsi, McCleary, Ferdinand, Cooper, Taylor, Norwood, Evans, Quinn, Piazon, Cox, Vydra

Off by one

[howser]

Fernandez being completely frozen out now then ?

[Ian Royal]

Fernandez being completely frozen out now then ?

Taylor, Hector, Vydra, Piazon and John are all also loanees. We can't use all six.

Maybe we could drop Piazon from the squad for him and play John instead.

[genome]

If there's one comment that sums up the helmetry of some RFC supporters, it's this:

[10539.4 Miles Away]

So, Al-Habsi captains in place of McShane. Barrett, Watson and Kuhl on the bench. Can't see the match thread stretching to more than 2 pages. Exciting times.

[Ian Royal]

Vydra smarts puts Cox through, but fails to beat Silvestri after good keeping.

We're pushing hard and Evans apparently starting well. Which is nice.

[Ian Royal]

Dellor just declared that McCleary has everything in his locker to be a worldclass full back. What a moron.

There's definitely potential as a wingback now he's lost his edge as a winger seemingly, but talk about ridiculous hyperbole.

[Royal With Cheese]

Sympathy post.

[10539.4 Miles Away]

Dellor just declared that McCleary has everything in his locker to be a worldclass full back. What a moron.

There's definitely potential as a wingback now he's lost his edge as a winger seemingly, but talk about ridiculous hyperbole.

What chance has the match thread got of reaching 2 pages when you post match updates in the preview thread

I was amazed that Gooding didn't just laugh in his face "Well, he's not exactly faced a world class winger has he"

[tidus_mi2]

Big Hec makes it 1-0!

[harry]

Big Hec

[Ian Royal]

1-0 Hector.

DOOOM DOOOM

DOOOOOOOOOOOOOM