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The Madejski Stadium plays host to two sides in relegation trouble on Saturday, as Reading host Bolton. Both clubs are hovering just about the bottom three on 22 points, with Wanderers ahead of the Royals on goal difference alone. Bolton appear to have stopped conceding silly goals recently, but with two goalless draws on the spin, Gary Megson will be hoping his side can take something from their trip south. Steve Coppell's side will also be hoping for a result after suffering their fifth defeat in a row at Chelsea on Wednesday night. Reports on Friday claim Bolton had offered Reading £7million for striker Leroy Lita. Coppell has denied the story and may hand the striker a role on the bench for the game. Despite the rumours, Trotters boss Megson did bring a striker to the club on deadline day, with Southampton's Grzegorz Rasiak joining on loan until the end of the season. The Polish international is expected to start upfront alongside Kevin Davies and Matt Taylor, although El-Hadji Diouf could return after Senegal were knocked out of the African Cup of Nations. Abdoulaye Meite is still on international duty and will miss the game, meaning defender Gary Cahill is set to make his debut for the club. Cahill is expected to fill the void left by Lubomir Michalik's departure to Leeds United. Gretar Steinsson is once again expected to keep his place at right-back, keeping Nicky Hunt out of the side. Ivan Campo is available for selection again after serving a one-match suspension, but Joey O'Brien will be missing after picking up a hamstring injury against Fulham. Despite five defeats on the bounce, Reading will go into the game hoping to take inspiration from their second half performance at Stamford Bridge, where they arguably deserved to take point. Shane Long has completed a suspension and could return to the side and Dave Kitson is available again after illness. Just like Diouf, Ibrahima Sonko could be back for the game following Senegal's elimination from the African Cup of Nations, but with Ivory Coast and Cameroon qualifying for the quarter-finals, Emerse Fae and Andre Bikey are still on international duty. Jimmy Kebe, Michael Duberry, Bryn Gunnarsson and former Wanderers midfielder Glen Little are all out injured, leaving Coppell with a few selection problems. Squads: Reading: from: Hahnemann, Federici, Murty, Rosenior, de la Cruz, Ingimarsson, Cisse, Bennett, Shorey, Oster, Harper, Matejovsky, Hunt, Convey, Doyle, Kitson, Lita, Long, Sonko. Bolton Wanderers: from: Jaaskelainen, Hunt, J O'Brien, A O'Brien, Gardner, Cahill, Steinsson, Taylor, Campo, Cohen, Andranik, Guthrie, Nolan, Davies, Rasiak, Diouf, Giannakopoulos, McCann, Samuel, Braaten, Al Habsi. Referee: Phil Dowd Burnden Aces' prediction: 1-1 |
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