Follow Sportsmail's coverage of the Barclays Premier League as Reading host QPR in one of three games to conclude the weekend's action.
If either side lose at the Madejski Stadium they will be relegated to the Championship for next season, while a draw would condemn both teams to playing in the second tier next term.
Kicking off at 3pm, Chelsea will aim to keep up their bid of reaching next season's Champions League when they host Swansea, while the day's action ends at the Emirates Stadium when Arsenal, also aiming to finish in the top four, welcome newly crowned champions Manchester United to the Emirates Stadium.
There have been 25 first-half goals in the PL at the Madejski Stadium this season. There has only been more scored at Old Trafford and the DW Stadium (both 28).
13.53: A first attack in a while for Reading as they win a free-kick on the very corner of the penalty box, but the delivery hits the top of the QPR wall and the visitors clear.
13.50: Chance for QPR! Jay Bothroyd lifts the ball over an advancing McCarthy on the edge of the box, but the ball just bounces wide of the post. A Reading defender looked like he had it covered though as he chased back.
13.49: QPR continue to edge this encounter, even if McCarthy still hasn't had a save to make. This time, Stephane Mbia crosses into the box for Remy but again it's just too far in front of the striker.
13.46: Good stuff from QPR now as Taarabt's chipped through ball for Loic Remy has just too much power on it as Reading keeper Alex McCarthy collects.
13.43: It's over the bar again for QPR but this was mighty close to opening the scoring! Jem Karacan brought down Adel Tarrabet on the edge of the box, with Esteban Granero's free-kick shaving the crossbar as it glided over the top corner.
13.40: QPR now go on the attack but they too fire way over the bar with their first effort courtesy of Jermaine Jenas.
13.38: Pavel Pogrebnyak gives away a free-kick after raising a high foot to Nedum Onuhoa's face, but the Russian striker clearly tried to play the ball so no further action is taken.
13.35: Cracking free-kick from Reading's Danny Guthrie, whose out-swinging free-kick into the six-yard box evades everyone with Sean Morrison just missing out with a slide at the far post.
13.34: An encouraging start with both teams keen to attack. Jose Bosingwa gives the ball straight to Nick Blackman, but after running at the defence, the Reading forward blasts a shot way over the crossbar.
13.27: Out come the players on to the pitch, there are still a few empty seats around the ground. The fans may not believe their teams can stay up but hopefully that means the pressure is off and we can see two sides playing without caution this afternoon.
13.19: Reading looked in good shape to stay up at the start of February but nine defeats from 10 games in all competitions has completely decimated their chances of booking successive seasons in the top flight - it's a run that has included the sacking of Brian McDermott as manager.
13.14: The players are warming up at the Madejski Stadium in front of a slowly filling up crowd. The winners would be given a brief stay of execution but make no mistake, not even the most optimistic of supporters expect either of these to stay up come May.
Reading v QPRReading: McCarthy, Gunter, Mariappa, Morrison, Kelly, McCleary, Karacan, Guthrie, McAnuff, Pogrebnyak, Blackman. Subs: Taylor, Pearce, Le Fondre, Hunt, Robson-Kanu, Harte, Carrico.
QPR: Green, Bosingwa, Hill, Onuoha, Traore, Jenas, Granero, Mbia, Taarabt, Remy, Bothroyd. Subs: Julio Cesar, Derry, Park, Mackie, Da Silva, Ben Haim, Hoilett.
Armand Traore, Nedum Onuoha, Jermaine Jenas, Esteban Granero and Jay Bothroyd all come in while Christopher Samba misses out on the squad altogether.
Reading remain unchanged from the side that lost 2-1 at Norwich. Defeat for either side would condemn the losers to the npower Championship, while a draw would consign both to the drop today.
Even victory may only provide a temporary reprieve, with a victory for Aston Villa over Sunderland tomorrow night condemning today's Madejski Stadium victors to relegation as well.
12.59: Some essential reading with just over 30 minutes until kick-off as Mail on Sunday's Gary Neville speaks on how Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United team will look to replicate the German thrillers after mid-week's extraordinary Champions League action.
12.53: But will Van Persie even start against Arsenal this afternoon? In theory he should, there's a Premier League rule somewhere regarding not fielding your strongest possible line-up - just ask Mick McCarthy and Wolves about that.
12.50: And of course that guard of honour will coincide with Robin van Persie's first return to the Emirates Stadium since leaving for Manchester United in a £24m deal last summer.
12.47: Of course it isn't just winner survives (for a day or two at least) at the Madejski Stadium. We have a couple of crackers today as Chelsea host Swansea at 3pm and Arsenal give Manchester United a guard of honour an hour later - so stick around for what should be an entertaining afternoon.
5 - There have been five red cards in the last five league meetings between Queens Park Rangers and Reading. Pressure.
12.35: With 18th placed Wigan still to play 17th placed Aston Villa - one of those teams is guaranteed to get 35 points. A draw today would mean QPR and Reading could only get 34 and is the reason why both could go down this afternoon.
12.30: For weeks it has seemed a formality that QPR and Reading will be relegated, but today it can become official.
It's often a mis-used phrase with no real consequence, but today really is a must-win game as at least one of these sides will have their Championship status for next season rubber stamped this afternoon - it may be both. Team news on the way.
More Info: Al - Safa - AlKuwait SC - AFC Cup
No comments:
Post a Comment