Reading v Palace

Madejski Stadium, Saturday 3.00pm

Crystal Palace

Story so far

It's hard to work out what's going on at Palace at this moment in time. It seems that every player is up for sale - whether this indicates we are desperate for cash or Warnock is taking advantage of the end of August panic buyers, we don't know.

What we do know is that we are still struggling for goals. If personal terms can be agreed with Alan Lee, I'd imagine he will go straight in to tomorrow's squad.

It seems that our forward line isn't the only problem - what with the shipping of four goals at Leeds during the week, with the usually dependable Matt Lawrence at fault for three of them.

Reading had a miserable afternoon against Charlton in their last league game, conceding four but also scoring two. This was made up for by their 5-1 drubbing against Luton.

Steve Coppell is likely to make a few changes in his squad whilst Neil Warnock has a touchline spout with Wally Downes and the Reading supporters.

One thing is certain though - Palace need to make up for Tuesday night.

Team news

Palace boss Neil Warnock is set to wield the axe after the 4-0 thrashing by Leeds United in the Carling Cup.

Julian Speroni will go back in goal and Danny Butterfield should return at right-back after both being rested for the tie.

Ben Watson and James Scowcroft are reportedly on the verge of leaving ahead of Monday's transfer deadline day so are unlikely to feature.

Paul Ifill, Tom Soares and Carl Fletcher are on the transfer list so they may also not play.

Reading - league stats

Position	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points
12th	3	1	1	1	4

Full league table

Reading - current form

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against
5	3	1	1	11	6

Full form table

Our away record v Reading

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against
36	11	8	17	47	71

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
20/01/2006	League	Crystal Palace	1 - 1	Reading
13/09/2005	League	Reading	3 - 2	Crystal Palace
06/03/2004	League	Crystal Palace	2 - 2	Reading
20/12/2003	League	Reading	0 - 3	Crystal Palace
15/03/2003	League	Reading	2 - 1	Crystal Palace

All time results

One to watch

Stephen Hunt

Reading's top scorer

Ibrahima Sonko - 3 goals

Reading's bad boy

Ibrahima Sonko - 0 1

Palace old boys

Stephen Hunt,

You have to look at Reading's wing play and the pace that they attack to understand why they are so effective at scoring goals.

The ball will go wide, the winger will run, shoot or cross - the perfect recipe for Championship success.

In Bobby Convey and Stephen Hunt, Reading have the ability to tear past their fullback and definately get in the box to score.

In Sonko, Reading will always pose a threat at set-pieces and in James Harper, they will keep the ball on the ground.

You've then got Kevin Doyle and Leroy Lita to worry about.

Thankfully Shaun Derry will be back to give the defence a touch of help and Speroni will be in goal to pull off some fantastic saves.

This is a game we should lose quite comfortably, although I'm uncomfortably optimistic that we'll have a fantastic game.

Last meeting

Palace 1-1 Reading

Friday January 20 2006

Palace: Kiraly, Ward, Hudson, Fitz Hall, Boyce, Soares, Hughes, Watson, McAnuff, Johnson, Macken

Subs not used: Freedman, Morrison, Leigertwood, Andrews, Speroni

Bookings: Hughes, Johnson

Goals: Johnson 79(pen)

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Little, Sidwell, Harper, Convey, Kitson (Lita, 64 ), Doyle

Subs not used: Gunnarsson, Hunt, Oster, Stack

Goals: Harper 81