Published: Tuesday, 16th March, 2010 10:00am

Ivar ready to reap revenge on Rangers

by Anthony Smith

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Payback time: Ivar Ingimarsson is determined to make amends for his red card at QPR in a 4-1 defeat when Royals host Neil Warnock's hooped rivals tonight.

IVAR Ingimarsson is desperate to avenge Reading's horror show at QPR when they host Neil Warnock's resurgent side at the Madejski Stadium tonight (8pm ko).

Royals were battered 4-1 at Loftus Road on a calamitous night in October.

It was such a shocking display that around 2,000 travelling fans turned on former boss Brendan Rodgers and began calling for his head.

Now Ingimarsson, who was also sent off in the west London debacle, says it is payback time as Brian McDermott's in-form side look to secure their sixth successive home victory and make it eight wins in nine Championship games.

"It was a very disappointing night at QPR," recalled Reading's skipper.

"I haven't been sent off many times and when you are you feel like you have let your team-mates down.

"But I'm confident we can put that right. We're a different team now in terms of the way we play.

"With these results behind us we go into each game with belief that we can beat whoever we are playing against.

"We know we are scoring goals now and keeping it tight at the back. It's a good feeling to have."

Ironically, Royals were in the driving seat in the earlier hoops derby when Rangers had Ben Watson sent off in the first-half.

However, the hosts, then coached by Jim Magilton, still gained a 2-0 lead before the interval through Akos Buzsaky and Jay Simpson.

Rodgers made two changes at half-time out of desperation, but his plans were blown apart when Ingimarsson was red carded just seconds after the restart.

And Rangers put the boot in with Rowan Vine then Patrick Agyemang making it 4-0 before Brian Howard grabbed a late consolation for the well-beaten Royals.

Rangers, though, fell apart after that, sacking Jim Magilton as they tumbled down the table with Warnock their fifth manager in an increasingly bizarre campaign.

Royals, on the other hand, replaced Rodgers with McDermott in December and have not looked back.

McDermott remains unbeaten in a league game at the Madejski Stadium with Reading winning their last five, including Saturday's comfortable 2-0 triumph over Bristol City.

That took them level with QPR on 44 points, though Royals have a game in hand.

And Ingimarsson believes the sky is now the limit for McDermott's men.

"We want to climb up the league and finish as high as we can," declared the 32-year-old defender.

"If we maintain the run we're on you never know where we could end. There are quite a few games left so we will see.

"Maybe it looks easy for us at the moment but it's really hard to keep this sort of a run going.

"We know we can do it but it doesn't some easily. However, if we keep it going who knows, we may sneak in the last six come the end of the season."

Royals' on-loan right-back Andy Griffin faces a late fitness test on a sore hamstring with Brynjar Gunnarsson ready to deputise again.

But Jem Karacan (hand) and Kalifa Cisse (knee) remain sidelined.

Rangers, meanwhile, are yet to lose under Warnock following Saturday's 1-1 draw at Sheffield United.

Warnock, a hate figure in these parts when in charge of Blades, could name the same Rangers side for the fourth game in a row.

Marcus Bent could miss out again as Warnock can name a maximum of five loanees in his matchday squad and Carl Ikeme, Matt Hill, Adel Taarabt, Tamas Priskin and Jay Simpson have all been selected in recent weeks.

Tonight's clash will be Warnock's third fixture against Reading this season. The former Crystal Palace boss was in charge for a 4-2 win at the Madejski Stadium in December during the end of Rodgers' reign.

But he then suffered a 3-1 defeat by McDermott's side at Selhurst Park almost exactly a month ago.

***** Reading Football Club were crowned the E.ON Championship Family Club of the Year award for 2010 at the official Football League Awards on Sunday *****