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Reading vs Fulham. Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs Semi-Final.

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Reading 1

  • Y Kermorgant (49th minute pen)

Fulham 0

    2-1

    Reading v Fulham preview: Jordan Obita a doubt for Royals

    Reading v Fulham
    Image: Reading host Fulham on Tuesday, live on Sky Sports

    Jordan Obita is an injury doubt as Reading host Fulham in the second leg of their Championship play-off semi-final on Tuesday, live on Sky Sports.

    Obita put the Royals ahead in the first leg at Craven Cottage on Saturday before Tom Cairney's header left the tie finely poised.

    But Obita could be missing at the Madejski after he twisted an ankle towards the end of the game.

    Live EFL

    Reading will also be without suspended skipper Paul McShane, who battled back from injury to make the first leg but was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Kevin McDonald.

    With McShane banned for three games, goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi is determined his next match in a Reading shirt will be as a Premier League player.

    "Everyone feels sorry for Macca that he won't be playing - but I feel sure we can win the match and get to Wembley and the Premier League for him," he said.

    "It was a blow losing him and for the second leg, one of those things. We were so happy to see him back as skipper after his injuries, he is important for the team."

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    Watch highlights of the first leg

    Reading only lost twice at home in the Championship during the regular season and beat Fulham 1-0 at the Madejski in January.

    Both sides struggled with penalties throughout the campaign, missing 15 of 25 spot-kicks between them.

    "I always expect we're going to score the next ­penalty," said Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic. "Probably the next one is going to be the most important for us and I ­expect we're going to shoot with the quality and personality we need."

    Team news

    Along with Obita, Reading are waiting to see if midfielder Liam Kelly has shaken off the illness that forced him to sit out the trip to Craven Cottage.

    Jokanovic has no fresh injury concerns and could name the same starting line-up for the second leg.

    Prutton's prediction

    Reading were fantastic at Craven Cottage. They didn't let Fulham play their natural game but with the attacking talent Slavisa Jokanovic has at his disposal, I get the feeling they won't be shackled again.

    I'm sure this will be a more open game. From the Fulham point of view we expect a lot of them offensively. They've got good players all the way through their ranks with Chris Martin and Tom Cairney.

    This one feels like it will be settled in normal time and I'm leaning more towards the visitors.

    PRUTTON PREDICTS: 0-1 - Fulham win 2-1 on aggregate (Sky Bet odds: 9/1)

    Betting

    Fulham are the 13/10 favourites with Sky Bet with Reading 21/10, while for the match to end in a draw again is priced at 13/5, with a penalty shoot-out a 6/1 chance. The home side are still seen as the overall favourites to gain promotion via the play-offs, while Jaap Stam's side are seen as joint outsiders with Huddersfield at 4/1. Yann Kermorgant is the 9/2 favourite to score the first goal in this game, while Martin is priced at 5/1 and seen at the most like for the away side. Cairney, who scored for the Cottagers in the first leg, has been enhanced with Sky Bet Price Boosts from 7/1 to 9/1 to score from outside the area.