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Played
September 22, 2012 3:00 PM BST
The Hawthorns — West Bromwich
Referee:‬ C. Foy‎
Attendance:‬ 23854‎
 
71′ Romelu Lukaku
 

West Brom - Reading Preview: Baggies seek revival against winless Royals

Steve Clarke's men look to recover from defeat against Fulham as they entertain Brian McDermott's side who are yet to record a league win since promotion as Championship winners

By Arthur Virgo

More On :  Reading, West Bromwich Albion, West Bromwich Albion vs Reading
EPL - Reading vs Tottenham, Brian McDermott
Getty
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

WEST BROM

Foster
Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell
Mulumbu, Yacob
Brunt, Morrison, Fortune
Long
READING

McCarthy
Gunter, Gorkss, Pearce, Harte
McCleary, Leigertwood, Karacan, Guthrie, McAnuff
Pogrebnyak

Steve Clarke has backed Billy Jones to start again at right-back if Steven Reid (hamstring) does not recover in time, but left-back Goran Popov (groin) is unlikely to be fit.

Peter Odemwingie (suspended), and winger Jerome Thomas (hip), are unavailable, meaning forwards Marc-Antoine Fortune and Romelu Lukaku, and midfielders Chris Brunt and Graham Dorrans, will compete for two spots in a front three alongside Shane Long.

Alex McCarthy is set to continue in goal ahead of Adam Federici who has struggled with form and fitness (knee), while winger Jimmy Kebe (hamstring) and striker Jason Roberts (calf) are out injured.

The Royals could name an unchanged line-up from that which faced Tottenham on Sunday, but Adam Le Fondre could play up front alongside Pavel Pogrebnyak at some point if Brian McDermott opts to field two strikers.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • West Brom have kept seven clean sheets in their last nine Premier League games at the Hawthorns and have yet to concede at home this season, and have also scored at least two goals in each of their last three home matches.
  • Reading have attempted fewer shots per game on average (7.7) than any other Premier League side except Sunderland (5), but conceded eight goals in their three games so far.
  • Referee Michael Oliver has awarded penalties to the home side in two of his three Premier League outings this season.
  • Shane Long joined the Baggies in summer 2011 after six seasons at the Royals, and scored eight as West Brom finished 10th in the Premier League, while his former club went on to win promotion as the table-topping side in the Championship.
  • In the last four meetings between the two clubs the Royals are unbeaten, winning twice, while there have been three red cards, including one for Long, then of Reading, in the 2010 FA Cup.
  • The Irish international (pictured right) scored the winning goal for Reading the last time these two sides met, as a player in a 1-0 FA Cup win in January 2011, and this week has promised not to celebrate should he score against his old club.
  • Striker Jason Roberts, currently injured, first won promotion to the Premier League with West Brom in 2002, later moving to Portsmouth, Wigan and Blackburn, before signing for Reading in January this year and helping them win promotion with six goals in 17 appearances.
  • Nicky Shorey was released by West Brom this summer to return to Reading, with whom he had won promotion in 2006, gaining two England caps, before moving to Aston Villa in 2008, eventually returning via loan spells at Nottingham Forest and Fulham.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • West Bromwich Albion 2-0 Reading
    21.09 %
  • West Bromwich Albion 2-1 Reading
    19.05 %
  • West Bromwich Albion 3-1 Reading
    9.52 %
Head to Head
Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 12 Jan 2013 Reading 3 - West Bromwich Albion 2
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 22 Sep 2012 West Bromwich Albion 1 - Reading 0
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  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
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FA Cup ‎(FA)‎ 8 Jan 2011 Reading 1 - West Bromwich Albion 0
  • Player Ratings
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  • Play by Play
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FA Cup ‎(FA)‎ 24 Feb 2010 West Bromwich Albion 2 - Reading 3
  • Player Ratings
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FA Cup ‎(FA)‎ 13 Feb 2010 Reading 2 - West Bromwich Albion 2
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Last Five Matches
West Bromwich Albion
12 May 2013Norwich City 4 - West Bromwich Albion 0EPL
7 May 2013Manchester City 1 - West Bromwich Albion 0EPL
4 May 2013West Bromwich Albion 2 - Wigan Athletic 3EPL
27 Apr 2013Southampton 0 - West Bromwich Albion 3EPL
20 Apr 2013West Bromwich Albion 1 - Newcastle United 1EPL
Reading
14 May 2013Reading 0 - Manchester City 2EPL
4 May 2013Fulham 2 - Reading 4EPL
28 Apr 2013Reading 0 - QPR 0EPL
20 Apr 2013Norwich City 2 - Reading 1EPL
13 Apr 2013Reading 0 - Liverpool 0EPL
Odds
Returns: West Brom £16.67 PaddyPower Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Returns: Draw £100.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Returns: Reading £1510.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Team News
Available Squads
1Ben FosterGoalkeeper
3Jonas OlssonDefender
6Liam RidgewellDefender
23Gareth McAuleyDefender
28Billy JonesMidfielder
5Claudio YacobMidfielder
7James MorrisonMidfielder
11Chris BruntMidfielder
21Youssouf MulumbuMidfielder
22Zoltán GeraStriker
36Romelu LukakuStriker
13B. MyhillGoalkeeper
18Gonzalo JaraDefender
25Craig DawsonDefender
17Graham DorransMidfielder
8Markus RosenbergStriker
9Shane LongStriker
32Marc-Antoine FortuneStriker
21Alex McCarthyGoalkeeper
2Chris GunterDefender
3Nicky ShoreyDefender
26Alex PearceDefender
17Kaspars GorkssDefender
8Mikele LeigertwoodDefender
11Jobi McAnuffMidfielder
12Garath McClearyMidfielder
35Danny GuthrieMidfielder
29Pavel PogrebnyakStriker
9Adam Le FondreStriker
12Stuart TaylorGoalkeeper
23Adrian MariappaDefender
24Shaun CummingsDefender
20Jem KaracanMidfielder
19Hal Robson-KanuMidfielder
10Noel HuntStriker
18Simon ChurchStriker
Players to Watch
Shane Long
Shane Long
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 9
Games Goals YC RC
33 8 3 0
The committed front man led the line in each of Steve Clarke’s four matches, and will be even more relied on to provide a goal threat in the absence of the suspended Peter Odemwingie.

The 25-year-old netted the opening goal in his team’s 2-0 win over Everton, and made his case for a starting role in the Republic of Ireland team with the opening goal against Oman. He will look to capitalise on any defensive mistakes and on any occasion his team-mates get the ball in the penalty area.
Pavel Pogrebnyak
Pavel Pogrebnyak
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 29
Games Goals YC RC
28 5 4 1
The 28-year-old Russia international has been relied on to start games as a single centre-forward in Brian McDermott’s last three matches, but his team struggled to support him up front last weekend against Tottenham.

The target man’s ability to connect with crosses and hold the ball up will be crucial to his side’s chances, while his powerful shooting with either foot could prove decisive for a team short of attacking threat of late.
Prediction
Until last weekend’s defeat away at Fulham West Brom had looked solid in defence and dangerous up front, picking up convincing wins at the Hawthorns against Liverpool and Everton.

Steve Clarke’s side now have a good opportunity to recover against Brian McDermott’s Reading side that have lost their last two matches and have yet to collect a league win.
Editor's Prediction
West Brom 2
Reading 0
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Robin van Persie Robin van Persie
Striker
Manchester United 		25 3
Luis Suárez Luis Suárez
Striker
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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