Played
August 18, 2012 3:00 PM BST
Madejski Stadium — Reading
Referee: K. Friend
Attendance: 23973
August 18, 2012 3:00 PM BST
Madejski Stadium — Reading
Referee: K. Friend
Attendance: 23973
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| Reading | 2.40 | 66.00 | 2.40 | 151.00 | 2.35 | 40.00 | 2.39 | 2.32 |
| Draw | 3.30 | 11.00 | 3.25 | 9.00 | 3.30 | 6.50 | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Stoke City | 2.88 | 1.05 | 3.00 | 1.07 | 3.10 | 1.10 | 3.25 | 3.16 |
Reading - Stoke Preview: Royals look to hit the ground running in Premier League against Tony Pulis' Potters
Brian McDermott's side will hope to earn their first top flight in four years when they entertain the west Midlands outfit in their opening clash at the Madejski Stadium
By Tom Marshall-Bailey
Getty Images
| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
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Reading
 Federici Gunter, Pearce, Gorkss, Harte McCleary, Guthrie, Leigertwood, McAnuff Le Fondre, Pogrebnyak |
Stoke
 Begovic Shotton, Shawcross, Upson, Wilson Pennant, Whitehead, Cameron, Etherington Walters, Crouch |
Reading boss Brian McDermott faces a few selection dilemmas for his inaugural Premier League match in charge with Jimmy Kebe out with a knee injury and veteran striker Jason Roberts starting a two-match suspension.
There is good news for McDermott, however, as midfielder Jem Karacan is set to be named on the bench after making a miraculous recovery from a broken ankle sustained in April.
Summer signing Garath McCleary is set to take Kebe's spot in the starting 11 and could be joined by fellow acquisitions Chris Gunter, Danny Guthrie and Pavel Pogrebnyak while Adam Le Fondre, who completes a meteoric rise from League Two to Premier League football in just two seasons, will contend with Noel Hunt to replace Roberts.
Set-piece specialist Ian Harte is set to get the nod at left-back over another new addition Nicky Shorey.
Stoke manager Tony Pulis faces similar selection problems with defensive lynchpin Robert Huth not expected to start the game after contracting meningitis last week. The German could, however, make an amazing return to take his place amongst the substitutes after returning to light training.
Matthew Upson will start alongside captain Ryan Shawcross at the heart of the defence but it is in the middle of the park where Pulis must make some decisions.
New signings Michael Kightly, Jamie Ness and Geoff Cameron are all pushing for starts, with the latter expected to seal a spot in the team.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Reading have won eight and lost none of their last nine league games at the Madejski Stadium.
- The Royals conceded the highest percentage of goals from set pieces of any team in the 2011-12 Championship (42%).
- Reading are unbeaten in their last six meetings in all competitions against Stoke (one penalty shoot-out defeat) and have won the last four league games in a row against the Potters.
- Reading have scored a penalty in each of their last three games against Stoke in all competitions.
- Reading new boy Pavel Pogrebnyak (pictured right) scored six goals from his first six shots on target when playing for Fulham last season.
- Stoke scored the highest percentage of headed goals in the 2011-12 top flight (39%).
- The Potters conceded the highest proportion of first half goals in the 2011-12 Premier League (55%).
- Tony Pulis' side scored the highest proportion of goals from set pieces of any team in the 2011-12 Premier League (58%).
- Stoke have won none of their last nine Premier League away games (D3 L6) and scored just three goals in that run.
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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
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Reading 2-1 Stoke City
- 14.96 %
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Reading 1-2 Stoke City
- 14.53 %
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Reading 1-1 Stoke City
- 9.83 %
| Premier League (EPL) | 9 Feb 2013 | Stoke City 2 - Reading 1 |
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| Premier League (EPL) | 18 Aug 2012 | Reading 1 - Stoke City 1 |
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Reading
    |
||
| 14 May 2013 | Reading 0 - Manchester City 2 | EPL |
| 4 May 2013 | Fulham 2 - Reading 4 | EPL |
| 28 Apr 2013 | Reading 0 - QPR 0 | EPL |
| 20 Apr 2013 | Norwich City 2 - Reading 1 | EPL |
| 13 Apr 2013 | Reading 0 - Liverpool 0 | EPL |
Stoke City
 |
||
| 12 May 2013 | Stoke City 1 - Tottenham 2 | EPL |
| 6 May 2013 | Sunderland 1 - Stoke City 1 | EPL |
| 27 Apr 2013 | Stoke City 1 - Norwich City 0 | EPL |
| 20 Apr 2013 | QPR 0 - Stoke City 2 | EPL |
| 14 Apr 2013 | Stoke City 0 - Manchester United 2 | EPL |
| Returns: | Reading £1510.00 |
|
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 | |
| Returns: | Draw £110.00 |
|
Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 | |
| Returns: | Stoke City £30.00 |
|
Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets |
| 1 | Adam Federici | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | Chris Gunter | Defender |
| 26 | Alex Pearce | Defender |
| 17 | Kaspars Gorkss | Defender |
| 23 | Ian Harte | Defender |
| 8 | Mikele Leigertwood | Defender |
| 11 | Jobi McAnuff | Midfielder |
| 19 | Hal Robson-Kanu | Midfielder |
| 35 | Danny Guthrie | Midfielder |
| 29 | Pavel Pogrebnyak | Striker |
| 9 | Adam Le Fondre | Striker |
| 21 | Alex McCarthy | Goalkeeper |
| 23 | Adrian Mariappa | Defender |
| 24 | Shaun Cummings | Defender |
| 12 | Garath McCleary | Midfielder |
| 16 | Jay Tabb | Midfielder |
| 10 | Noel Hunt | Striker |
| 18 | Simon Church | Striker |
| 1 | Asmir Begovic | Goalkeeper |
| 4 | Robert Huth | Defender |
| 12 | Marc Wilson | Defender |
| 17 | Ryan Shawcross | Defender |
| 28 | Andy Wilkinson | Defender |
| 6 | Glenn Whelan | Midfielder |
| 18 | Dean Whitehead | Midfielder |
| 26 | Matthew Etherington | Midfielder |
| 21 | Michael Kightly | Midfielder |
| 19 | Jonathan Walters | Striker |
| 25 | Peter Crouch | Striker |
| 29 | Thomas Sørensen | Goalkeeper |
| 30 | Ryan Shotton | Defender |
| 14 | Jamie Ness | Midfielder |
| 24 | Rory Delap | Midfielder |
| 8 | W. Palacios | Midfielder |
| 9 | Kenwyne Jones | Striker |
| 33 | Cameron Jerome | Striker |
| Pavel Pogrebnyak | |
| Position: | Striker |
| Squad Number: | 29 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
The Russian will be determined to prove that his goalscoring exploits for Fulham in this league last year were no fluke and provide the goals on a regular basis that can help the club survive relegation. Pogrebnyak's form for the Cottagers last year was excellent but it remains to be seen whether he can produce the goods with a newly-promoted outfit.
| Jermaine Pennant | |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Squad Number: | 7 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The controversial winger has a point to prove to Stoke fans who feel that the newly-named No.7 was not at his best last season. With the arrival of Michael Kightly placing pressure on the ex-Arsenal man, the onus is on him to deliver more consitently for the Potters.
McDermott's men will be riding on a wave of optimism and excitement heading into the new season but Stoke, who themselves are becoming seasoned veterans of the Premier League will be eager to burst their bubble.
In what is sure to be a tightly-fought encounter, I feel both sides may cancel each other out with a stalemate looking the most probable outcome.
In what is sure to be a tightly-fought encounter, I feel both sides may cancel each other out with a stalemate looking the most probable outcome.
Results
Times In BST
Live
Final
scheduled
Suspended
Cancelled
Postponed
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Robin van Persie Striker Manchester United |
25 | 3 |
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Luis Suárez Striker Liverpool |
23 | 0 |
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Gareth Bale Midfielder Tottenham |
20 | 0 |
|
C. Benteke Striker Aston Villa |
19 | 3 |
|
Michu Midfielder Swansea City |
19 | 0 |
