Post by Golden_Boy™ on Dec 9, 2006 2:06:48 GMT -1
Watford v Reading
Vicarage Road
Saturday, 9 December
Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage on the BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live & highlights on MOTD
Watford will be without captain Gavin Mahon as their influential midfielder must serve a one-match ban for picking up five bookings this season.
But veteran defender Chris Powell is available after returning from a ban.
Reading skipper Graeme Murty and winger Seol Ki-Hyeon face late fitness tests on toe injuries.
Stephen Hunt (hamstring) and Kevin Doyle (thigh) have been passed fit to play but the Royals are still without Bobby Convey and Dave Kitson.
Watford (from): Lee, Chamberlain, Chambers, Shittu, DeMerit, Powell, Doyley, Stewart, Mariappa, Mackay, Smith, Spring, Francis, Bouazza, McNamee, Bangura, Jarrett, Henderson, Young, Priskin.
Reading (from): Hahnemann, Murty, Gunnarsson, Bikey, de la Cruz, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Little, Sidwell, Harper, Hunt, Oster, Seol, Doyle, Lita, Long, Federici.
Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd:
"I think Monday's draw away at Manchester City may prove to be a turning point.
"That point will only prove to be a good one if we follow it up with a win and then put together a good run.
"Steve Coppell has done a terrific job there and they will come to Vicarage Road in good form."
Reading manager Steve Coppell on injury problems:
"If you are unfortunate with injuries the transfer window means you can't do anything about it.
"If you do get a run of injuries in one position then you can be struggling.
"We are still vulnerable to that but we have a lot of flexible players and that gives us a cushion. If it is enough of a cushion only time will tell."
BIG-MATCH FACTS
WATFORD scrapped into the top tier via the Play Off route last May, while Reading romped to a first ever season of top flight football as runaway Championship champions. There were 25 points between them then, and that difference is being reflected now with a 15 point advantage to the sixth place Royals over the bottom of the table Hornets.
Adrian Boothroyd has found Premiership victories hard to come by, with the 2-0 home win over Middlesbrough on 4 November their only top tier triumph thus far. But the Watford manager was pleased with the point from a goalless draw at Manchester City on Monday, even though it leaves them six points from safety, having scored half as many goals as they've conceded (10 scored, 20 conceded), and at the foot overtaken by Charlton 24 hours later.
This is Watford's 3,500th League match and their first meeting with Reading in the Premiership. The Hornets have failed to score in their last four matches against the Royals at second League level.
READING made the long trip to Newcastle midweek, and dropped their first points in five games. Their first ever four-game winning run in top flight football made them equal on points with third placed Arsenal. Now they must regain that winning formula, having seen the Magpies come from behind to take all three points off them.
Only leaders Manchester United with 13, and champions Chelsea with 11, have won more Premiership matches this season than the Royals' eight (
) , while their £80,000 purchase from Cork City, Kevin Doyle, jointly heads the Premiership scorers charts with eight, alongside Chelsea's £24 million man Didier Drogba and Nwankwo Kanu of Portsmouth.
Both last season's exchanges between these clubs in the Championship were scoreless draws.
REFEREE
Chris Foy (St Helens, Merseyside)
SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM
WATFORD
20th 10 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 19th
Lowest could fall: 20th
1. No wins in five in all competitions.
2. One point from a last possible 12, and one win in 15 Premiership games this season.
3. Failed to score in six of the last eight Premiership matches, including the last two. Not netted in 238 minutes (three hours 58 minutes) of top tier soccer since DeMerit scored a consolation goal against Portsmouth at Fratton Park on 18 November.
4. Four clean sheets in seven League outings, and failed to score in eight top tier matches. Only Manchester City and West Ham have missed the target on more occasions (nine each).
5. Victory will take Watford's total of League points passed the 100 mark. They have 98 at present.
6. Three goals short of conceding 100 in Premier League history.
7. Dropped 35 Premiership points this season. Only Charlton have dropped more (36).
8. Yet to concede a penalty in this Premiership campaign.
9. Conceded more goals in the last 10 minutes of Premiership matches than any other club (six).
10. Consecutive pre-Christmas fixtures away to north-west opposition follows this, against Newcastle and Liverpool.
READING
6th 25 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 3rd
Lowest could fall: 9th
1. A dismal run of no points from a possible 12, was followed by 12 out of 12 courtesy of victories over Tottenham (h), Charlton (h), Fulham (a) and Bolton (h), prior to Wednesday's odd goal in five reverse at Newcastle.
2. Chasing a 75th win in the 144th League game under Steve Coppell.
3. Holding a 100% record when Premiership clean sheets are kept, beating Manchester City (h), West Ham (a), Charlton (h), Fulham (a) and Bolton (h).
4. Completed 24 League games without a goalless draw. The most recent was home to Watford on 11 March in the Championship.
5. Picked up fewer cards in Premiership matches than any other club - 19 (two reds, 17 yellow).
6. Have two home fixtures before Christmas, against Blackburn and Everton.
KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES
WATFORD
Ashley YOUNG is Watford's top scorer with four goals.
Gavin MAHON is the only remaining player to have started every one of Watford's Premiership matches this season.
Darius HENDERSON began his professional career with Reading.
Suspended: Gavin MAHON
READING
Kevin DOYLE is Reading's top scorer with eight goals - all in the Premiership. It makes him the joint leader with Didier DROGBA of Chelsea and Nwankwo KANU of Portsmouth in the race for the Barclays Golden Boot.
Ivar INGIMARSSON, Marcus HAHNEMANN and Nicky SHOREY have been on the field for every minute of every one of Reading's Premiership matches to date.
Seven players have been involved in at least a part of every one of the Royals' Premiership matches this season - a higher number of players than any other club.
If he participates, John OSTER will be playing the day after turning 28.
If he plays, Steven SIDWELL will be making his 150th League appearance in a Reading shirt.
If he participates, Brynjar GUNNARSSON will be facing his former club.
HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
Home and away
League: Watford 34 wins, Reading 36, Draws 16
Prem: Watford 0 wins, Reading 0, Draws 0
at Watford only
League: Watford 29 wins, Reading 7, Draws 7
Prem: Watford 0 wins, Reading 0, Draws 0
Vicarage Road
Saturday, 9 December
Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage on the BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live & highlights on MOTD
Watford will be without captain Gavin Mahon as their influential midfielder must serve a one-match ban for picking up five bookings this season.
But veteran defender Chris Powell is available after returning from a ban.
Reading skipper Graeme Murty and winger Seol Ki-Hyeon face late fitness tests on toe injuries.
Stephen Hunt (hamstring) and Kevin Doyle (thigh) have been passed fit to play but the Royals are still without Bobby Convey and Dave Kitson.
Watford (from): Lee, Chamberlain, Chambers, Shittu, DeMerit, Powell, Doyley, Stewart, Mariappa, Mackay, Smith, Spring, Francis, Bouazza, McNamee, Bangura, Jarrett, Henderson, Young, Priskin.
Reading (from): Hahnemann, Murty, Gunnarsson, Bikey, de la Cruz, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Little, Sidwell, Harper, Hunt, Oster, Seol, Doyle, Lita, Long, Federici.
Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd:
"I think Monday's draw away at Manchester City may prove to be a turning point.
"That point will only prove to be a good one if we follow it up with a win and then put together a good run.
"Steve Coppell has done a terrific job there and they will come to Vicarage Road in good form."
Reading manager Steve Coppell on injury problems:
"If you are unfortunate with injuries the transfer window means you can't do anything about it.
"If you do get a run of injuries in one position then you can be struggling.
"We are still vulnerable to that but we have a lot of flexible players and that gives us a cushion. If it is enough of a cushion only time will tell."
BIG-MATCH FACTS
WATFORD scrapped into the top tier via the Play Off route last May, while Reading romped to a first ever season of top flight football as runaway Championship champions. There were 25 points between them then, and that difference is being reflected now with a 15 point advantage to the sixth place Royals over the bottom of the table Hornets.
Adrian Boothroyd has found Premiership victories hard to come by, with the 2-0 home win over Middlesbrough on 4 November their only top tier triumph thus far. But the Watford manager was pleased with the point from a goalless draw at Manchester City on Monday, even though it leaves them six points from safety, having scored half as many goals as they've conceded (10 scored, 20 conceded), and at the foot overtaken by Charlton 24 hours later.
This is Watford's 3,500th League match and their first meeting with Reading in the Premiership. The Hornets have failed to score in their last four matches against the Royals at second League level.
READING made the long trip to Newcastle midweek, and dropped their first points in five games. Their first ever four-game winning run in top flight football made them equal on points with third placed Arsenal. Now they must regain that winning formula, having seen the Magpies come from behind to take all three points off them.
Only leaders Manchester United with 13, and champions Chelsea with 11, have won more Premiership matches this season than the Royals' eight (
) , while their £80,000 purchase from Cork City, Kevin Doyle, jointly heads the Premiership scorers charts with eight, alongside Chelsea's £24 million man Didier Drogba and Nwankwo Kanu of Portsmouth.Both last season's exchanges between these clubs in the Championship were scoreless draws.
REFEREE
Chris Foy (St Helens, Merseyside)
SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM
WATFORD
20th 10 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 19th
Lowest could fall: 20th
1. No wins in five in all competitions.
2. One point from a last possible 12, and one win in 15 Premiership games this season.
3. Failed to score in six of the last eight Premiership matches, including the last two. Not netted in 238 minutes (three hours 58 minutes) of top tier soccer since DeMerit scored a consolation goal against Portsmouth at Fratton Park on 18 November.
4. Four clean sheets in seven League outings, and failed to score in eight top tier matches. Only Manchester City and West Ham have missed the target on more occasions (nine each).
5. Victory will take Watford's total of League points passed the 100 mark. They have 98 at present.
6. Three goals short of conceding 100 in Premier League history.
7. Dropped 35 Premiership points this season. Only Charlton have dropped more (36).
8. Yet to concede a penalty in this Premiership campaign.
9. Conceded more goals in the last 10 minutes of Premiership matches than any other club (six).
10. Consecutive pre-Christmas fixtures away to north-west opposition follows this, against Newcastle and Liverpool.
READING
6th 25 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 3rd
Lowest could fall: 9th
1. A dismal run of no points from a possible 12, was followed by 12 out of 12 courtesy of victories over Tottenham (h), Charlton (h), Fulham (a) and Bolton (h), prior to Wednesday's odd goal in five reverse at Newcastle.
2. Chasing a 75th win in the 144th League game under Steve Coppell.
3. Holding a 100% record when Premiership clean sheets are kept, beating Manchester City (h), West Ham (a), Charlton (h), Fulham (a) and Bolton (h).
4. Completed 24 League games without a goalless draw. The most recent was home to Watford on 11 March in the Championship.
5. Picked up fewer cards in Premiership matches than any other club - 19 (two reds, 17 yellow).
6. Have two home fixtures before Christmas, against Blackburn and Everton.
KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES
WATFORD
Ashley YOUNG is Watford's top scorer with four goals.
Gavin MAHON is the only remaining player to have started every one of Watford's Premiership matches this season.
Darius HENDERSON began his professional career with Reading.
Suspended: Gavin MAHON
READING
Kevin DOYLE is Reading's top scorer with eight goals - all in the Premiership. It makes him the joint leader with Didier DROGBA of Chelsea and Nwankwo KANU of Portsmouth in the race for the Barclays Golden Boot.
Ivar INGIMARSSON, Marcus HAHNEMANN and Nicky SHOREY have been on the field for every minute of every one of Reading's Premiership matches to date.
Seven players have been involved in at least a part of every one of the Royals' Premiership matches this season - a higher number of players than any other club.
If he participates, John OSTER will be playing the day after turning 28.
If he plays, Steven SIDWELL will be making his 150th League appearance in a Reading shirt.
If he participates, Brynjar GUNNARSSON will be facing his former club.
HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
Home and away
League: Watford 34 wins, Reading 36, Draws 16
Prem: Watford 0 wins, Reading 0, Draws 0
at Watford only
League: Watford 29 wins, Reading 7, Draws 7
Prem: Watford 0 wins, Reading 0, Draws 0
