Bristol City vs Reading; Sky Bet Championship
Bristol City vs Reading. Sky Bet Championship.
Ashton GateAttendance23,116.
Bristol City v Reading preview
Sunday 24 December 2017 14:50, UK
Bristol City manager Lee Johnson will consider employing Aden Flint as an emergency striker against Reading.
The free-scoring centre-half has six goals this season and was played in attack during the second half of Saturday's draw at QPR. Johnson has been without Famara Diedhiou and Milan Djuric so Flint may get a run against the Royals.
He said: "It's a viable option for us. It's not a joke. We've got two top strikers out - they're our target men but I think Flinty enjoys himself."
John Swift made his long-awaited Reading return as a substitute in Saturday's 2-1 defeat against Burton and will hope to feature more prominently. Swift had spent five games on the sidelines with a hamstring problem but came on after an hour of the Brewers clash.
Garath McCleary, who had missed 12 games with a groin injury, was an unused substitute but could now be involved on Boxing Day. Liam Kelly was preferred to Tyler Blackett against Albion in the only change to Jaap Stam's starting XI.
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The Robins have ended on the losing side in each of their last three league matches at Ashton Gate against Reading, relinquishing two-goal leads to lose 3-2 in two of those three defeats.
Reading have won seven of their last eight league matches against Bristol City, but lost earlier this season at the Madejski.
Bristol City haven't lost at home on Boxing Day in any of their last 22 matches (W13 D9) - their last Boxing Day defeat at Ashton Gate came 55 years ago, losing 2-1 to Brighton in 1962.
Yann Kermorgant has had a hand in five goals in two league starts against Bristol City (four goals, one assist).
