READING (home) 16.01.2010

Reading travel to Nottingham Forest on the back of an excellent FA Cup win at Anfield, giving the Royals the belief they can climb the table away from the Championship's relegation area. Nottingham Forest meanwhile were cruelly dumped out of the cup at the first hurdle despite outplaying Birmingham CIty for the vast majority of both games against the in-form Premiership side. Forest will be aiming to cement their place in 2nd spot against the Royals, placed 21st.

Team news: Forest; Robert Earnshaw looks set to miss out again with his hamstring problem, whilst Julian Bennett appears to be no closer whatsoever to a first team or any return after more than a year out of the game. Billy Davies is likely to ring the changes after shuffling his pack for the midweek defeat at St Andrews. A side ressembling to that which was so outstanding at West Brom is more likely to take to the field on saturday. Lee Camp, Paul McKenna and Chris Gunter have started every league game this season, whilst Wes Morgan and Chris Cohen have missed only one. Dele Adebola is expected to be on the bench with rumours Ipswich Town could be lining up a January move. The former Bristol City targetman has made 9 starts and 13 substitute appearances in the league this season, scoring 3 times.

Reading; Winger James Henry, a one-time Forest loanee, is out with a hamstring complaint, whilst influential midfielder Noel Hunt is also sidelined. On-loan full-back Andy Griffin ,30, is expected to debut following his move from Stoke City. Also on-loan, defender Ryan Betrand, from Chelsea has been a reliable figure in the Royals backline. Forward Grzegorz Rasiak scored 19 goals in 45 games for Derby between 2004 and 2005, but has failed to hold down a regular starting role this term. Brynjar Gunnarsson made 14 appearances for forest in 2003/04 and has been at the Madejski Stadium for 5 seasons, making 126 appearances, scoring 10 goals.

Reading last game; v Liverpool (A)FA Cup W 2-1 *aet. [Sigurdsson 90p, Long 100]. Line-up; Federici, Gunnarsson, Mills, Ingermarsson, Bertrand, McAnuff, Cisse, Karacan, Sigurdsson, Rasiak, Church. Subs used; Long, Kebe, Howard.

STATS: Caretaker manager; Brian McDermott (England)

Current position; 21st. P24 W5 D8 L11 F26 A39 PTS 23 (away W4 D2 L6)

Readings pick of 3 this season: 25. Gylfi SIGURDSSON. age 20. pos; midfield. lge app; 16(3) goals; 6. Yellow/red cards: 0/0. Iceland u-21 international.

11. Jobi McANUFF. age; 28. position; midfield/winger. app;16 goals; 1. Yellow/red cards; 1/0 . 1 Jamaican full cap.

18. Simon CHURCH. age; 21. pos; striker. app; 14(3). goals; 4. Yellow/red cards; 1/1.  Welsh under-21 international and captain. 

Current form; last 6 league; LDDDLW (Reading sit 19th in the form table[last 6 games]. Forest are top 14pts. Derby 22nd/5pts!)

Goals: 35 (26 lge + 9 cups): Sigurdsson 8 (6+2), Rasiak 6, Church 5 (4+1). Hunt/ Mills/ Pearce/ Mooney/ Bignall - all 2

Yellow cards: 31 (Pearce/Mills 4). Red cards:3 (Ingermarsson /Long/ Church)

Clean sheets:4. Failed to score: 7. 0-0's: 3. Most assists: McAnuff 7

Average attendance: 17,211. Capacity: 24,224 (71%). Highest: 19,640 v Forest (08/08/09)

Head-to-head: Forest wins 13, Reading wins 8. Draws 7. *Reading's last win at Forest was a 1-0 success january 2004. Brynjar Gunnarsson was in the Forest starting line-up.

Referee: Darren Deadman (Cheshunt). 09/10; games; 21. Yellows 60. Red 4.*Reffed the Derby 2-2 West Brom Championship game in December (3 yellows) when he controversially allowed a goal which appeared to go in off a WBA players arm. Also reffed Southend 2-1 MK Dons league 1 game in November, handing out a staggering 9 yellow cards.

Its a fact...Reading Football Club is the 6th oldest League club and the oldest in the South of England but no-one knows exactly when RFC were founded. The club badge shows 1871 but it might have been 1872!

PL's punt: A tough game, The Royals not to be underestimated. I fancy the Reds to knick this one 1-0, maybe Cohen to settle it, putting right his awful miss in the last City Ground match against Birmingham.