Brighton v Reading preview: Championship promotion rivals clash live on Sky Sports
Saturday 25 February 2017 16:41, UK
Brighton have no fresh injury concerns for Reading's visit to the Amex Stadium.
Gaetan Bong will miss out again as he continues to recover from a knee injury and Liam Rosenior remains sidelined after an ankle problem. But the defensive duo are edging closer to returning to boost the Seagulls' promotion bid for the run-in.
Reserve goalkeeper Niki Maenpaa is still out with a shoulder injury so Christian Walton continues on the bench as cover for David Stockdale.
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Reading manager Jaap Stam also has no new injury worries. Joey van den Berg remains a doubt after missing Tuesday's 1-0 defeat to Huddersfield due to an ongoing hamstring problem.
Stephen Quinn (knee) continues to build his fitness but Deniss Rakels (ankle) and Callum Harriott (hamstring) remain on the sidelines. The Royals are currently fourth in the league table.
Opta stats
The Seagulls have recorded just one league win in their last 13 attempts against the Royals (D5 L7), although it arrived in this fixture last term.
After winning four in a row at Brighton between 2002 and 2012, Reading are winless in their last three league games on the south coast (D2 L1).
Brighton have suffered just two defeats in their last 26 league matches (W18 D6 L2), but both of these have come in 2017.
At home, Brighton have lost just one of their last 26 league matches (W19 D6 L1) - this coming versus Brenford in September 2016.
Garath McCleary has had a hand in 15 goals this season in the Championship for Reading (8 goals, 7 assists) - in his previous two seasons combined, he'd been involved in nine goals in 60 Championship apps for the Royals (5 goals, 4 assists).
Prutton's prediction
Brighton have been good at home and when you have the firepower they do - the likes of Tomer Hemed, Sam Baldock and Glenn Murray - then Reading will find it tough.
At this stage of the season Brighton have to keep the heat on Newcastle, who will have already played against Bristol City by the time the Seagulls kick off.
David Prutton predicts: 2-1 (15/2 with Sky Bet)
