A very happy Christmas to one and all and may Boxing Day bring a nice little present in the shape of 3 points. Don't worry about the gift wrapping or anything fancy this late in the day, just the points will do very nicely (although I would prefer not to have a day spent scrabbling down the back of the settee looking for them).
So the festive season sees Norwich City roll into town on Monday at 3pm. Really nice to have a home game at last for the first time in what seems like an eternity (but probably isn't). Norwich have one of the best squads in the division, sporting players such as Steven Naismith, Cameron Jerome, Jonny Howson, Graham Dorrans and Wes Hoolahan yet their recent form is a mystery to one and all as, after a bright start, they've suddenly hit a rather rocky patch of only 2 wins in 11 games. Nevertheless they are still very capable if given half a chance so Reading need to be on their mettle and not suffering any turkey dinner hangovers.
Norwich will, thankfully, be without Matt Jarvis but look to be at full strength otherwise.
Reading will see Danny Williams return from suspension and there is a chance that John Swift might play some part in the game following his injury. So for the first time in a while Reading too would look to have a near full squad of players to select from with only Deniss Rakels and Steven Quinn absent. What Jaap chooses to do with it though will be anyone's guess, I can see an argument to not mess with what collected the pointage at Blackburn but equally there is a strong argument to return Danny Williams to midfield (sadly probably in place of Kelly) as well as Yann Kermorgant up front in place of Samuel. One thing expected is that Swift, if he does play a part, will only be on the bench.
Referee
Conducting affairs will be Hampshire's Andy Davies
Previously with Mr Davies
29 Oct 2016 > Reading 2-0 Nottingham Forest
06 Aug 2016 > Reading 1-0 Preston North End
15 Sep 2015 > Reading 0-1 Derby County
So Monday will be the 3rd time already this season Mr Davies has dropped into the Mad Stad. Let's hope it's as successful has his previous two visits (and not at all like his first duty at the ground)
Historically
Norwich are one of those sides that used to be reasonably regular opponents until they found the second division in 1960 and since then, apart from 2009/2010, they've been consistently in the top two divisions so the two sides went about 35 years or so with no league meetings.
Monday will therefore be the 34th time the sides have played a league game in Reading. The record so far reads
