Reading FC set to recall old guard for Birmingham battle

Anthony Smith • Published 3 Nov 2011 14:30 0 Comments

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READING FC manager Brian McDermott could be set to ring the changes for Sunday's mouthwatering Championship clash against Birmingham City.

The Chronicle understands Royals' boss may recall experienced full-backs Ian Harte and Andy Griffin for the showdown at Madejski Stadium.

The ex-Premier League duo were mainstays in the Reading side that reached the play-off final at Wembley last season.

But Griffin has made only five appearances this campaign and has been hampered with injury, while Harte has played the same number of games after losing his place to summer signing Joseph Mills.

However, both could be in line for a dramatic recall this weekend - as could striker Simon Church and fit-again winger Jimmy Kebe - as Reading attempt to bounce back from Tuesday night's 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest.

Speaking exclusively to the Chronicle, McDermott confirmed he may tinker with his line-up against Chris Hughton's visitors.

"I've made the odd change here and there over the 15 games we've played in the league," he said. "We're getting a settled side now and we've had only one defeat in the last nine games.

"But I made a change against on Tuesday night with Mathieu Manset starting instead of Churchy so I'm still trying to tweak things and get the best out of my squad. I've got to do what I've got to do to win matches, it's as simple as that."

The 1-0 defeat at the City Ground on Tuesday ended Reading's eight-match unbeaten run. However, with five draws in that sequence, McDermott knows his side must be more ruthless.

The return to fitness of Kebe will certainly help boost a Reading attack that has scored a meagre four goals in their last six Championship games, and McDermott added: "Getting Jimmy fit was a tough one. He's getting there right now and that's the most important thing.

"He's been very important to the side for the past two years in terms of what he brings to the team. I just want to keep him fit now and hopefully we can do that because he causes defences serious problems."

The match has been put back to Sunday as Blues take on Belgian side Club Brugge in the Europa League at St Andrew's tonight (Thursday).

Though Hughton's side lie outside the top six, they could rise above West Ham into second place by winning their three games in hand.

Reading, though, will be more concerned with their own patchy home form, having won just once at Madejski Stadium all season in a 2-0 victory over rock-bottom Doncaster Rovers.

Their next two fixtures are at the Madejski, with Cardiff City set to visit when the league returns from the upcoming two week international break.

"We've got back-to-back home games now and we're happy with that," stated McDermott. "Sunday is a very, very big game and we know that Birmingham are hard to beat.

"They're been playing catch-up really because of their European commitments but they have coped well and I don't think they will be affected by the Brugge game because they have time to recover.

"They have some very experienced players there whereas we are the third youngest side in the Championship. Despite that, we're still in there competing."

This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 03 Nov 11

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