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Played
December 29, 2012 10:00 AM EST
Madejski Stadium — Reading
Referee:‬ M. Oliver‎
Attendance:‬ 24183‎
 

Premier League Preview: Reading - West Ham

The relegation-threatened side looks to build on its point against Swansea but it will be against a team fresh from a Boxing Day break, albeit one still hampered by injuries.

By Sam Wells

More On :  Reading, West Ham United, Reading vs West Ham United
Reading v Crystal Palace, Danny Guthrie
Getty Images
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

READING

Federici
Gunter, Pearce, Mariappa, Harte
Karacan, Leigertwood
Kebe, Guthrie, McAnuff
Pogrebnyak
WEST HAM UNITED

Jaaskelainen
Tomkins, Collins, Reid, O'Brien
O'Neil, Noble
Taylor, Nolan, Jarvis
Cole

Brian McDermott looks set to persist with the same side that earned a hard-fought goalless draw against Swansea on Boxing Day, though Adam Le Fondre could replace Pavel Pogrebnyak after impressing in that game.

Also vying for contention up front is Jason Roberts, as the veteran striker looks as though he could return from a hip injury in time to feature in Saturday's clash.

Sean Morrison (ankle), however, is not as lucky as he remains sidelined, meaning that Alex Pearce and Adrian Mariappa will continue to marshal proceedings from the Royals' central defense.

Danny Guthrie's disciplinary problems look to be resolved as he prepares to start his second consecutive game; his refusal to travel to the Sunderland defeat earlier this month seemingly put in the past.

Sam Allardyce's side, meanwhile, continue to contend with a variety of injuries as Yossi Benayoun (knee), Andy Carroll (knee), Mohamed Diame (hamstring), George McCartney (knee) and Ricardo Vaz Te (shoulder) all remain sidelined by injury.

The Hammers have, however, received a timely boost with the unexpected availability of Carlton Cole; his three-match suspension from the red card given in the Everton game having been lifted after West Ham's appeal proved successful.

Right-back Guy Demel could also return to action after recovering from illness, though he looks more likely to be given a place on the substitute's bench as Allardyce looks set to retain faith in the side that succumbed to a 2-1 home defeat against Everton.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Reading has won five of the past seven encounters between these two sides, having done the double over West Ham in the Championship last season.
  • The hosts have won just one of their last 12 Premier League games at the Madejski Stadium; they have drawn six of them and lost the other five.
  • Reading has conceded more goals from crosses than any other side in the Premier League this season (11).
  • In fact, the Royals have conceded more goals than any other Premier League team this season (37).
  • All nine of Carlton Cole's (pictured right) league goals in 2012 have come at Upton Park; he has yet to score an away league goal this year.
  • West Ham has picked up more cards than any other Premier League side this season (37 yellows and one red).
  • The Hammers have scored only five away goals this season; the fewest of any side in the Premier League.
  • The last time West Ham conceded six or more goals in a top flight game was away to Reading on New Year's Day 2007.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Reading 1-2 West Ham United
    11.44 %
  • Reading 0-2 West Ham United
    8.96 %
  • Reading 1-3 West Ham United
    8.46 %
Head to Head
England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 2012-12-29 Reading 1 - West Ham United 0
  • Player Ratings
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England - Championship ‎(ENG2)‎ 2011-12-10 Reading 3 - West Ham United 0
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Last Five Matches
Reading
2013-05-14Reading 0 - Manchester City 2EPL
2013-05-04Fulham 2 - Reading 4EPL
2013-04-28Reading 0 - QPR 0EPL
2013-04-20Norwich City 2 - Reading 1EPL
2013-04-13Reading 0 - Liverpool 0EPL
West Ham United
2013-05-12Everton 2 - West Ham United 0EPL
2013-05-04West Ham United 0 - Newcastle United 0EPL
2013-04-27Manchester City 2 - West Ham United 1EPL
2013-04-20West Ham United 2 - Wigan Athletic 0EPL
2013-04-17West Ham United 2 - Manchester United 2EPL
Odds
Returns: Reading $10.50 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to $100 CAD
Returns: Draw $110.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to $100 CAD
Returns: West Ham United $610.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to $100 CAD
Team News
Available Squads
1Adam FedericiGoalkeeper
2Chris GunterDefender
26Alex PearceDefender
23Adrian MariappaDefender
23 Ian HarteDefender
20Jem KaracanMidfielder
8Mikele LeigertwoodDefender
11Jobi McAnuffMidfielder
14Jimmy KebeMidfielder
35Danny GuthrieMidfielder
29Pavel PogrebnyakStriker
12Stuart TaylorGoalkeeper
15Sean MorrisonDefender
24Shaun CummingsDefender
16Jay TabbMidfielder
19Hal Robson-KanuMidfielder
9Adam Le FondreStriker
10Noel HuntStriker
22Jussi JaaskelainenGoalkeeper
2Winston ReidDefender
5James TomkinsDefender
17Joey O'BrienDefender
19James CollinsDefender
4Kevin NolanMidfielder
7Matthew JarvisMidfielder
14Matthew TaylorMidfielder
16Mark NobleMidfielder
32Gary O'NeilMidfielder
9Carlton ColeStriker
30Raphael SpiegelGoalkeeper
20Guy DemelDefender
27Jordan SpenceDefender
10Jack CollisonMidfielder
23Alou DiarraMidfielder
11Modibo MaigaStriker
12Ricardo Vaz TeStriker
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Robin van Persie Robin van Persie
Striker
Man. United 		25 3
Luis Suárez Luis Suárez
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Liverpool 		23 0
Gareth Bale Gareth Bale
Midfielder
Tottenham 		20 0
C. Benteke C. Benteke
Striker
Aston Villa 		19 3
Michu Michu
Midfielder
Swansea City 		19 0

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