Reading v Birmingham: Preview
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Team Stat Comparison
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Reading
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Birmingham
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Matches Played
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46
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46
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Table Position
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4
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2
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Points
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77
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83
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Goal Difference
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32
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17
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Goals for
*
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1.7
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1.0
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Goals against
*
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0.7
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0.9
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Last 5
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L-L-L-W-W
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W-L-W-D-D
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Last 5 home
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L-L-D-L-L
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L-D-W-D-W
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|
Last 5 away
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L-W-W-D-D
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W-W-D-W-D
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*
Goals per match - home matches for home club and away matches for away club
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Club Stats:
Reading
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Birmingham
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Updated: May 2, 2009, 4:16 PM UK
Reading will be without winger Glen Little for the crunch promotion clash with Birmingham.
Little was forced off late in the first half of Monday's 2-0 win at Norwich after pulling his hamstring and he will not be fit to feature.
That should see Stephen Hunt restored to the starting line-up. Hunt was named in the PFA Championship team of the year last weekend but has been relegated to the bench in recent weeks.
Left-back Chris Armstrong should be fit to return from his knee injury though the form of Dan Harding in his absence may keep him on the sidelines while midfielder Jay Tabb (illness) could also be back in the 16, but James Harper (groin) is definitely out.
Top scorer Kevin Doyle will be in the squad but is not 100% fit as he battles to shake off a knee problem so Shane Long - scorer of both goals at Norwich - and Dave Kitson should continue up front. Brynjar Gunnarsson (hamstring) and captain Graeme Murty (calf) are both fit after playing for the reserves in midweek.
Noel Hunt is out for the remainder of the season after fracturing a bone in his foot and Ivar Ingimarsson (knee) is a long-term absentee. A win for the Royals coupled with Sheffield United failing to beat Crystal Palace will see Reading return to the Barclays Premier League at the first attempt.
Birmingham will be without suspended midfielder Lee Bowyer for the promotion showdown.
The midlands club failed in their attempt to get the straight red card he received against Preston overturned on the grounds of wrongful dismissal, meaning he will now sit out the trip to the Madejski Stadium and any possible involvement in a two-legged play-off semi-final.
His absence should see a return for Lee Carsley, who could count himself unlucky to have missed out against North End due to the form of Damien Johnson.
Winger Sebastian Larsson had to go off with a shoulder injury in the 2-1 defeat but he should be okay to feature, but defender David Murphy remains sidelined for the remainder of the campaign with a broken kneecap.
McLeish has a host of selection and tactical dilemmas to contend with as he looks to pick the best XI to pick up the result needed, especially in attack where Cameron Jerome, Kevin Phillips, James McFadden, Garry O'Connor and Marcus Bent are all vying for inclusion.
Blues will be promoted if they win regardless of results elsewhere, but if they draw and Sheffield United win then the Yorkshire outfit will go up automatically. Defeat will see Alex McLeish's side in the play-offs.
Reading 1 - 2 Birmingham