Next up for Reading are the might of Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex for bragging rights in the tinpot derby.
Live on the telly as well so those not wanting to go to their shiny inaccessible spakkerdome can sit and enjoy their Saturday teatime while Reading try their best to halt the progress of Chris Hughton's boys
Now we all know that they seem to have a thing about Reading for some reason, a bit like that annoying brother/sister that keeps trying to get at you when you're completely knackered and just want to go to sleep. However, as we all know, the two clubs are completely and utterly interchangeable in more or less every respect which makes them ideal as brothers/sisters - perhaps we should twin with each other just to make it official....
Brighton have some excellent players - especially Knockaert - and plenty of ex-Readingness in Rosenior, Murray, Sidwell etc. (so it's no wonder they're actually quite good at this football lark currently). However they are on a bit of an erratic run of form (for them) currently with only(!) 4 wins and 2 draws from their last 8 league games so there are opportunities to be had - but to counter that they have won 7 of their last 8 home games (they drew the other with Ipswich).
Looking at the current squads it would appear that both teams will be at more or less full strength with Berg expected to be fit again and only Harriott (Reading) and Rosenior (Brighton) being unavailable. As to what Stam will do teamwise, well as ever that will be anyone's guess but I bet Berg gets put straight back in and McShane should return after being on the bench at Huddersfield. Presumably the management will also be aware of the Kermorgant issue so he may well start on the bench again rather than try and get the Brighton team and supporters "up for it" any more than they need to be.
Referee
For the second time in 5 weeks Reading will have the pleasure of Merseyside's Peter Bankes for the trip down south.
Semaphore will be provided by Timothy Wood and Dan Cook while Simon Hooper will be ensuring fair play in the management dugouts.
21 Jan 2017 > Derby County 3-2 Reading
30 Jan 2016 > Reading 4-0 Walsall (FA Cup)
20 Dec 2015 > Reading 1-0 Blackburn Rovers
08 Aug 2015 > Birmingham City 2-1 Reading
Historically
Including the Southern League, this will be the 116th league match between the two teams with Reading ahead by 44 wins to 37. Of the previous 57 visits to the deepest, darkest depths of East Sussex Reading have won on 13 occasions while Brighton have amassed twice that amount.
Interestingly, every one of those 57 games has seen at least 1 goal scored and the 18 draws have finished as 1-1 on 12 occasions (the other 6 all ended 2-2).
Recently there really hasn't been much between the sides with draws and 1-0s in either direction being the order of the day. I would therefore expect a similarly close and tight affair (there, if that doesn't guarantee a goalfest then nothing will).
