Norwich Vs Reading Match Preview

Norwich v Reading




Npower Championship
Venue: Carrow Road Date: Saturday, 12 February Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage: Watch highlights on The Football League Show; Listen on BBC Radio 5 live and BBC local radio; text commentary on the BBC Sport website



TEAM NEWS
Midfielder Andrew Surman, out since November with a knee injury, could return for Norwich City.

Manager Paul Lambert has no new injury problems to contend with.

Reading striker Shane Long, who has scored nine goals in his last 11 appearances, has been nursing a hip problem and is a doubt for the game.

Mikele Leigertwood is still suspended, but Brian Howard (toe) is back in contention and Alex Pearce (thigh) can also return to the squad.


MATCH PREVIEW
Norwich have not suffered back-to-back defeats since the end of the 2008/09 season, and they will want to retain that record by bouncing straight back from Saturday's loss at Burnley, which ended their eight-match unbeaten league run.

The Canaries, who are fourth in the table, will be pleased to return to Carrow Road, where they have taken 10 points out of the last possible 12 and lost only once in nine home league games.

Reading have won on their last two visits there and are also looking to bounce back from a defeat, having lost at home to QPR last time out even though the London side played most of the game with only 10 men. It was the second time this season the Championship leaders have beaten Reading despite having a man sent off.

That setback was Reading's first defeat in seven matches, and only their second in 14 league outings. But they are still yet to beat a current top-seven side this season.


MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head

• Reading are unbeaten in five league games against Norwich, whose last win against them was in April 2004.

Norwich

• A draw would be Norwich's 500th at home in the league.

• City have scored seven goals in injury time this season.

• Wes Hoolahan is set to make his 200th league appearance.

Reading

• Reading are one of two clubs to have conceded only one penalty in the Championship this season.

• The Royals have scored 15 goals in the final 15 minutes of their games - a feat matched only by Norwich.

• They have conceded only two goals in the last 10 minutes of games - both of them coming in their last two matches.

• Goalkeeper Adam Federici is set to make his 100th league start.

Souce:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/9390096.stm