Palace v Reading

Selhurst Park, Saturday 3.00pm

Darren Ambrose

Team news

Crystal Palace boss Dougie Freedman is set to shuffle his pack for this Championship clash, replacing most of the side that beat Southampton in the Carling Cup on Tuesday night. Darren Ambrose faces a fitness test after picking up a knock while diving in to score the opening goal against the Saints.

Reading midfielder Jay Tabb is available for selection after sitting out the last two games with concussion.

Quotes

Brian McDermott

"We're four or five points off second so there's nothing in it as far as I'm concerned. We're moving ahead, I'm excited about the players and what they're trying to do for us. They have real energy and intensity about them and I haven't seen a team work as hard as that in the Championship this season."

Mikele Leigertwood

"I'm looking forward to going back to my old club. I know Dougie well and as a player he always demanded the very best out of us and himself so he's probably no different as a manager.

"They're obviously doing well at the moment and I'm a little surprised, I must admit. When we're on top of our game, we know we're a match for anyone, so we've just got to keep believing and stay confident.

"We've been playing teams towards the top of the league and we've made them look average for certain parts of the game. We're pleased with our performances and hopefully we can pick up three points this weekend."

Jobi McAnuff

"I had a couple of good years there and I enjoyed my time, and it's always nice to go back - I'm sure they'll give me an interesting reception!"

Reading - league stats

Position	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points
15th	13	4	5	4	17

Full league table

Reading - current form

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against
6	2	4	0	8	6

Full form table

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
26/02/2011	League	Crystal Palace	3 - 3	Reading
11/09/2010	League	Reading	3 - 0	Crystal Palace
17/02/2010	League	Crystal Palace	1 - 3	Reading
08/12/2009	League	Reading	2 - 4	Crystal Palace
21/03/2009	League	Crystal Palace	0 - 0	Reading

All time results

Last meeting

Palace 3-3 Reading

Saturday February 26 2011

Palace: Speroni, Gardner, Wright, McCarthy, Moxey, Clyne, Ambrose, Danns (Zaha, 85), Dikgacoi, Iversen (Scannell, 70), Vaughan (Easter, 63)

Subs not used: Counago, Garvan, Price, Davis

Goals: Ambrose 1, Danns 25, Easter 68

Bookings: McCarthy

Reading: McCarthy, Mills, Harte, Ingimarsson (Khizanishvili, 68), Cummings (Karacan, 83), McAnuff, Leigertwood, Tabb, Kebe, Hunt, Long

Subs not used: Andersen, Antonio, Robson-Kanu, Church, Howard

Goals: Long, (pen) 30, Kebe, 49, Hunt, 73

Bookings: McCarthy