12:00PM BST 22 Sep 2012
Saturday, September 22
The Hawthorns
Kick-off: 15.00 BST.
TV: Highlights BBC1 Match Of The Day.
West Bromwich Albion (Possible, 4-2-3-1): Foster; Reid, McAuley,
Olsson, Ridgewell; Mulumbu, Yacob; Fortuné, Morrison, Dorrans; Long.
Out: Adam Federici (knee), Kebe (hamdtring), Roberts (calf).
Reading (Possible, 4-5-1): McCarthy; Gunter, Gorkss, Pearce, Harte;
McCleary, Karacan, Leigertwood, Guthrie, McAnuff; Pogrebnyak.
Out: Odemwingie (suspended), Popov (groin), Thomas (leg).
Test: Reid (hamstring).
Referee: Michael Oliver. Matches: 3, R1 Y5.
Team News
West Bromwich Albion will be without suspended striker Peter Odemwingie for
the Premier League clash with Reading.
The Nigeria international serves the first game of a three-match ban for kicking Sascha Riether in last week's 3-0 defeat at Fulham, opening the door for the likes of Markus Rosenberg, Romelu Lukaku and Marc-Antoine Fortuné to seize their chance up front.
Albion head coach Steve Clarke hopes to have full-back Steven Reid available after a hamstring injury but defender Goran Popov is set to miss out with a groin problem.
Meanwhile, Reading goalkeeper Alex McCarthy looks set to retain his place at The Hawthorns.
The 22 year-old replaced regular goalkeeper Adam Federici for Sunday's 3-1 home defeat to Tottenham and is likely to stay in the side as Federici is struggling with a knee injury.
Winger Jimmy Kebe is close to a return following a hamstring problem, but manager Brian McDermott is targeting the Capital One Cup tie with QPR next week for the Mali international's comeback. Striker Jason Roberts remains unavailable.
Match Notes
Although both sides kick off Saturday's game on the back of defeats last
weekend, West Brom, in sixth, have enjoyed a far more promising start to the
campaign than second-bottom Reading.
Steve Clarke's side will defend one of six remaining perfect home records in the Premier League, while the Royals arrive still searching for their first top-flight victory since their promotion.
With three domestic goals already this season, Baggies striker Shane Long enters the contest against his former club in good goalscoring form, however he has vowed not to celebrate should he find the net.
Betting: Home 6-4, Away 17-10, Draw 11-5.
Stat of the game: Though these teams have met 28 times in the league, this is their first top-flight clash.
Brendan McLoughlin's prediction: West Bromwich Albion 2 Reading 0.
