Royals Aiming To Stoke Fires Of Promotion Challenge

Three points for the Royals this afternoon will see Steve Coppell's side further establish themselves in the top six, but lowly Stoke have proved a tough nut to crack in recent years.

The Potters, who have been looking distinctly off-colour of late, have not lost to Reading at the Britannia Stadium since March 1999.

Despite their poor recent showings, Tony Pulis' side unsurprisingly managed to overcome Football League joke side West Ham United on Tuesday night. Frazer Richardson scored the only goal of the game in the first half. However, the Leeds United man won't be in action today as his loan spell in Staffordshire came to an end after the Potter's midweek game.

Clint Hill will be missing due to an ankle injury, whilst Paul Williams will not play as he has an ankle injury.

Reading have shown a tendency this season to beat the top teams in the division yet lose to the poorer ones, such as Stoke. Therefore, the Royals will be disappointed to be without right-back Graeme Murty who sustained an ankle injury on Tuesday night when playing for Scotland Future against Turkey. Ricky Newman should step in.

Andy Hughes is also likely to miss the game as he is being troubled by a hamstring injury. The void the former Notts County midfielder will leave is likely to be filled by out-of-favour and off-form ex-Arsenal man James Harper.

Shaun Goater is still weeks away from a first team comeback so Nicky Forster will play on his own up-front once more having sensationally torn Wigan to shreds last Saturday.

Tricky footwork man Bas Savage could be dropped to the bench after a poor showing at the JJB Stadium last weekend. The youngster was substituted by Steve Coppell after just half an hour to avoid a potential red card scenario.

With West Ham playing Sunderland and Norwich squaring up to Cardiff, the top teams could potentially slip up allowing the Royals to gain more ground on the pace-setters.

Last Season:

Reading 1 Stoke City 1 - Saturday 28th September 2003 - Anthony Rougier scores a rare goal but his strike is cancelled out by Vanduerzen heavily deflected shot which creeps in.

Stoke City 1 Reading 0 - Sunday 4th May
In the last game of the season, an Ade Akinbiyi goal gives Stoke victory, guaranteeing their place in the First Division for another year.

Probable Reading Line-Up: Hahnemann; Newman, Mackie, Ingimarsson, Shorey; Murray, Sidwell, Harper, Watson, Salako; Forster

Kick-Off: 3pm

Predicted Outcome: Stoke City 0 Reading 1 (Watson)