Published: Wednesday, 10th March, 2010 8:00am

Howard on the RAMpage ahead of Derby clash

by Anthony Smith

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Rams revenge: Brian Howard is fired up for tonight's visit of Derby County after breaking his jaw at Pride Park earlier in the season.

BRIAN Howard is plotting his personal revenge mission against Derby County in tonight's clash at the Madejski Stadium (Wednesday, 8pm ko).

Royals' midfielder had his jaw shattered in his side's 2-1 defeat at Pride Park back in November following a collision with Rams' Shaun Barker.

He underwent an operation to wire it back together, though he accepts the injury was purely an accident.

However, he was less than impressed with the actions of Derby mascot `Rammie the Ram' on the day.

`Rammie' infuriated Royals' bench and their supporters by suggesting Howard was play-acting as he writhed around in agony.

The man inside the mascot suit later claimed to have apologised for the incident, though Howard insists he heard nothing from him.

And it seems revenge will be sweet for Howard if Royals can continue their excellent form in the league that saw them smash Sheffield Wednesday 5-0 at home last time out to clinch their fifth win in six Championship games.

"I owe Derby one for breaking my jaw so hopefully I'll be fit enough to take my place in the team," stated Howard.

"The games come thick and fast and so we've got to concentrate on our league form and make sure we continue how we've been playing recently and get into the top half of the table."

Despite Reading's excellent form in the league they remain just one point above the relegation zone, though they have at least one game in hand on most teams around them.

And Howard says they can now give the league their full concentration following the 4-2 defeat by Aston Villa in Sunday's FA Cup quarter final.

"I had an illness for a few days before the game so I told the manager I didn't have as much energy as normal," explained the ex-Sheffield United and Barnsley star. "So after 60 minutes I came off and Brynjar Gunnarsson went on.

"We deserved to be 2-0 up and maybe could have scored one or two more. We came in at half-time and most of the lads thought we were Wembley bound, it would have been wrong not to think that.

"We also said we'd only done half the job and needed to finish it off. But Villa won the game and now we're not going to Wembley.

"Then again, I've lost there two years on the bounce so it's not all it's cracked up to be,

"But we can't be too disheartened. It wasn't meant to be. We were punished by a top team. They had four shots and scored four goals. Their first three goals came from three simple crosses which was disappointing.

"But we wish Aston Villa all the best and concentrate on the league."

Derby is the first of three successive home games in the Championship with Bristol City due to visit on Saturday (3pm ko) followed by QPR next Tuesday night (8pm, ko).

"It's been a good cup run so we can take the positives from it," insisted Howard. "We have to take that into the Derby game.

"We've got three home games in a week so it's massively important that we forget about the disappointment and get some points to move away from the bottom half of the table."