Reading v Derby preview
Friday 23 February 2018 11:33, UK
Reading will be without Chris Martin when they host Derby.
The striker is ineligible to play under the terms of his loan deal from the Rams. Midfielder John Swift could make his return after a six week lay-off with a hamstring injury. But Paul McShane, Joseph Mendes, Callum Harriott, Stephen Quinn and Jordan Obita all remain sidelined.
Derby will hand fitness tests to frontmen David Nugent and Matej Vydra. Nugent has a slight back problem while top scorer Vydra is struggling with illness.
Midfielder George Thorne is fit after a back injury and pushing to return to the squad. Goalkeeper Jonathan Mitchell is getting closer to full fitness following a finger injury.
Opta stats
Reading are winless in five home league games against Derby (D3 L2), since beating the Rams on the final day of the 2010/11 season.
The last two meetings between these sides in the Championship have seen 11 goals scored (six for Reading, five for Derby).
The Royals have lost each of their last four league games at the Madejski, failing to score in the last three. They've never previously lost five in a row at home in league competition.
Derby have conceded exactly two goals in each of their last two Championship matches, letting in as many as goals as they had conceded in their previous 15.
No Championship side have won fewer points over their last 10 league games than Reading (6 - W1 D3 L6).
Reading have dropped 11 points from goals conceded in the last 10 minutes of play in the league this season; no Championship side has lost more at this stage (Hull City also 11).
Prutton's prediction
Both these sides drew in midweek but in very different circumstances. Whereas Reading threw away a late lead to draw at Nottingham Forest, Derby scored a last-minute equaliser against Leeds. And you wonder what effect that will have on this game at the Madjeski.
Both sides have forgotten a little what it's like to win lately, and Derby could really use three points to keep in touch with the sides above them in the battle for automatic promotion. I reckon they'll get back up and running.
David Prutton predicts: 0-2 (17/2 with Sky Bet)
