Though on paper Tuesday night's clash between Reading and QPR is a lower midtable, or even relegation six pointer, affair the respective recent form of the two teams makes this a game to savour.

Reading (16th) v Queens Park Rangers (15th)
Coca Cola Championship
Tuesday March 16, Kick Off 8pm
Madejski Stadium, Reading

In 2008/09 my claim that QPR were "the real deal" after a 1-0 cup win at Aston Villa was regularly brought up as the season petered out into a dull, midtable finish. Consequently I was determined not to get carried away in the same manner this season, however that proved really tough in October when during this run of fixtures we're now playing the corresponding versions of Rangers cut loose in a manner not seen for quite some time. How could anybody have argued with our promotion credentials as we made a mockery of our numerical disadvantage to string a glorious, length of the field passing move together that ended with Jay Simpson samming a second goal past Reading keeper Adam Federici?

Things are very different now, for both clubs. QPR have worked through three managers and a chairman since that 4-1 victory over the Royals while Reading, who looked destined for the drop with Brendan Rodgers cutting a beleaguered figure to a backdrop of abuse from the visiting fans in the School End that night are now the form team in the division. They are flying away from the bottom three with the previously unknown Brian McDermott doing a spectacular job in both cup and league competitions. On paper this is 16th v 15th but in reality, with QPR boasting three wins and a draw from five games since Amit Bhatia took control of the club and installed Neil Warnock as manager, it promises to be a much higher quality clash than that.

In all liklihood neither team has the required number of games left to play to make a play off push, although with sixth placed Cardiff's annual end of season collapse in full swing you never know, so the next couple of months are more about enjoying the football and repaying two sets of fans who have suffered some abysmal performances so far this season. The aim for Neil Wanock next season is clear - he wants promotion as soon as possible even if his new owners are happy to be a little more patient, an interesting role reversal there. For Reading it's not quite so clear as the Premiership parachute payments end and a third season in the Championship beckons.

Five minutes on Reading
The Story So Far: There are plenty of former Premiership disaster stories knocking around the bottom two divisions – Norwich, Southampton, Leeds, Bradford, Forest until recently – so you could have been forgiven for thinking Reading were about to go the same way this season. The pattern was familiar: attempt at immediate return to top flight scuppered in play offs, parachute payments draw to a close, fire sale, high managerial turnover, debts and eventually Hartlepool away on a Tuesday night.

Reading had attempted to avoid that by bringing in Brendan Rodgers during the summer to replace Steve Coppell who had almost left after the relegation and didn’t really seem to have his heart in it by the time Burnley comprehensively outplayed Reading in the two legged play off semi final last season. The comprehensive dismantling of the team that initially took the Premiership by storm in its first season was complete when Stephen Hunt went to Hull and Kevin Doyle to Wolves. Rodgers forged his reputation in the youth and reserve set ups at Reading and Chelsea and then won many admirers for his work at Watford last season, saving the cash strapped Hornets from relegation after taking over from Aidy Boothroyd midway through the season.

He seemed the ideal fresh, ambitious, young manager with Reading connections to take the club on, and was even given a bit of money to spend on the likes of Matt Mills during the summer as he attempted to build a new Reading. These things take time, but Reading’s start to the season was dire. By the time they were hammered 4-1 by a QPR side reduced to ten men after half an hour in October they had won only two of their league matches and were placed 21st. A measly return of just three draws from six homes games hindered their progress.

Having given Rodgers a lengthy contract and mandate to build something for the future Reading were loathe to remove him so early, but the fans were furious that night in Shepherds Bush and it was therefore no great surprise to see him lose his job six weeks later, albeit after picking up three wins in seven matches just prior to the decision.

Brian McDermott, a former manager of non league sides Slough and Woking, came in as caretaker and although he achieved notable success over Premiership sides Liverpool and Burnley in the cup his results in the league, two draws and three heavy defeats from five matches leaving them second bottom four points adrift of safety, were nothing to write home about. Nevertheless McDermott was taken on full time and the Royals have never looked back – they have won eight of their last nine games and are flying up the table leaving the murky waters of the relegation struggle behind them.

Last season Charlton finished bottom after sacking a manager midway through the season and replacing him with somebody whose record as caretaker was very poor – this season it looks like Reading are going to achieve their objectives by making that same mistake. Funny old game and all that.

The Manager: After watching Charlton slump to relegation from this division last year after appointing Phil Parkinson as manager following a disastrous spell as caretaker manager you had to fear the worst for Reading when they replaced Brendan Rodgers with chief scout Brian McDermott – despite failing to win any of his first five league games in charge, a run that included a 4-1 defeat at Plymouth and 3-0 hammering by Sheffield United. It was the cup form that persuaded chairman John Madejski to entrust the former Slough and Woking boss with the job full time – the Royals beat Liverpool and Burnley during his caretaker stint – and it’s a gamble that has paid off with McDermott leading Reading on an unbelievable run of eight wins from nine matches coming into this match. As a player McDermott spent the first six years and 60 games of his career with Arsenal before spells of similar length at Exeter, Yeovil, Cardiff and Oxford. Famous chef Heston Blumenthal is his cousin, according to Wikipedia at least, and the pair do look very alike.

Three to Watch: While the traffic was flowing almost exclusively out of the Madejski Stadium during the summer transfer window one eye catching incoming name was that of midfielder Brian Howard. A combative and skilful attacking midfielder who caught the eye at Swindon after coming through the ranks at Chelsea and then made his name on the national stage by scoring at Anfield during Barnsley memorable FA Cup run the season before last. He was hot property after that but ultimately elected to stay in the Championship with Sheffield United, presumably with the intention of climbing into the top flight with the Blades as soon as possible. That didn’t happen, despite Howard scoring in the play off semi final against Preston last May, and United were beaten at Wembley by Burnley.

Howard then became the latest in a long line of players to criticise the methods and tactics employed by United manager Kevin Blackwell and promptly up and left for Reading less than a year after moving to Sheffield United. He looked a good signing for Reading but he has been in and out of the side since completing the move and needs to re-assert his influence on the division. Reading looked far better when he came on at Loftus Road earlier in the season but they are a far different team now.

Another impressive signing that passed a little under the radar was that of Doncaster Rovers centre half Matt Mills Rovers picked him up relatively cheaply, around £400,000, from Man City when they were promoted after being impressed with him on loan. His ability in the air and composure on the ground caught the eye of Championship scouts and he plumped for Reading this summer in a £2m deal ahead of Nottingham Forest who were also very keen. As well as strong defensive capabilities Mills provides a threat from attacking set plays but I think it would be fair to say he has only really come into his own in the past few weeks, and he still showed a rawness and lack of positional sense that will cost him a place at the highest level in the recent second half collapse against Aston Villa in the cup.

At Loftus Road Irish striker Shane Long missed a glorious headed chance to make it 2-1 just after half time. Long, signed at the same time and from the same Cork side as Kevin Doyle, has taken a little longer than the now Wolves striker to flower, and he started this season with a run of no goals from 14 appearances before heading a memorable Kop End winner in extra time against Liverpool in the FA Cup. He hasn’t really looked back since and two goals against Aston Villa have contributed to a run of seven goals in as many games in all competitions since then. He will provide the main goal threat to Rangers on Tuesday, although if the Villa game is anything to go by his supply can easily be cut off with sensible marking of wide man Jimmy Kebe.

Links >>> Reading Official Website >>> Reading Message Board >>> Travel Guide

History
Recent Meetings:
Reading’s current home form would suggest QPR are arriving at the Madejski at just the wrong time, earlier in the season the roles were reversed at Loftus Road. In October it was QPR running white hot after a 4-0 weekend rout of Preston and Reading were struggling at the bottom of the league with pressure mounting on manager Brendan Rodgers. The R’s ran in four for the second time in four days, the first time they’d done that at home since beating title chasers Man City and Leeds back to back in the last year of the old First Division, and then repeated the trick at Derby the following weekend. Things didn’t start well for the R’s when our old foe Andy Hall sent off Ben Watson for the heinous crime of taking his own free kick too quickly. With the crowd in the lynching mode traditional whenever Hall is in town Buzsaky distracted everybody’s attention by then taking the free kick himself and curling it home. The numerical disadvantage didn’t seem to affect the R’s unduly and they scored a magical goal to double the lead before half time – a flowing passing move starting with Gorkss and Cerny in their own six yard box ended with a glorious cross from Routledge that was hammered in by Jay Simpson. In the second half Hall immediately evened the numbers by sending off Ivar Ingimarsson within seconds of the restart and subs Rowan Vine and Patrick Agyemang both embarrassed keeper Federici to double the lead while Reading only had a late consolation from Brian Howard to show for their efforts.

QPR: Cerny 8, Ramage 8, Stewart 9, Gorkss 9, Borrowdale 8, Buzsaky 9 (Mahon 66, 8), Watson 6, Faurlin 8, Taarabt 9 (Agyemang 75, 8), Routledge 8, Simpson 8 (Vine 53, 7)
Subs Not Used: Heaton, Hall, Alberti, Ainsworth
Sent Off: Watson (two bookings)
Booked: Watson (foul), Watson (taking quick free kick), Borrowdale (foul), Faurlin (foul)
Goals: Buzsaky 31 (unassisted), Simpson 39 (assisted Routledge), Vine 71 (assisted Borrowdale), Agyemang 83 (assisted Mahon)

Reading: Federici 3, Cisse 3 (Sigurdsson 46, 6), Mills 5, Ingimarsson 4, O'Dea 5, Tabb 3 (Howard 46, 7), Gunnarsson 5, Kebe 6, McAnuff 7, Long 5, Church 5 (Robson-Kanu 59, 5)
Subs Not Used: Hamer, Karacan, Rasiak, Pearce
Sent Off: Ingmarsson (two bookings)
Booked: Ingimarsson (repetitive fouling), Ingimarsson (foul)
Goals: Howard 86 (assisted McAnuff)

Rangers went into the game at Reading last season under the caretaker guidance of Gareth Ainsworth for the first time. Iain Dowie was sacked the day before the game, televised by Sky Sports, after a 0-0 draw at Swansea during the week where Rangers failed to register a shot on target despite the Swans losing their goalkeeper and having o play with a centre half between the sticks. Gareth Ainsworth took charge for the first time at the Madejski Stadium, moved Leigertwood to right back to great effect and oversaw a 0-0 draw that may have been dull for the neutral but was a terrific result for QPR.

Reading: Hahnemann 6, Rosenior 6, Bikey 5, Ingimarsson 7, Armstrong 6, Kebe 7 (Long 80, -), Gunnarsson 6 (Harper 73, 6), Karacan 6 (Cisse 73, 6), Stephen Hunt 6, Noel Hunt 6, Doyle 6
Subs Not Used: Andersen, Kelly
Booked: Rosenior (foul)

QPR: Cerny 8, Leigertwood 8, Stewart 8, Hall 7, Connolly 7, Buzsaky 6, Mahon 7, Rowlands 7, Cook 5, Di Carmine 5 (Blackstock 60, 7), Parejo 6 (Balanta 86, -)
Subs Not Used: Delaney, Tommasi, Cole
Booked: Parejo (kicking the ball away)

Head to Head:
Reading wins -35
Draws – 17
QPR wins – 25

Previous Results:
2009/10 QPR 4 Reading 1 (Buzsaky, Simpson, Vine, Agyemang)
2008/09 QPR 0 Reading 0
2008/09 Reading 0 QPR 0
2005/06 Reading 2 QPR 1 (Furlong)
2005/06 QPR 1 Reading 2 (Cook)
2004/05 QPR 0 Reading 0
2004/05 Reading 1 QPR 0
2001/02 Reading 1 QPR 0
2001/02 QPR 0 Reading 0
1997/98 QPR 1 Reading 1 (Spencer)
1997/98 Reading 1 QPR 2 (Spencer, Swales og)
1996/97 QPR 0 Reading 2
1996/97 Reading 2 QPR 1 (Spencer)

Played for both clubs:
Michael Meaker
QPR 1990-95
Reading 1995-98
Although born in Greenford, Michael Meaker would go on to fulfil a footballing career as a Welsh U21 international and now currently plays in the Welsh leagues. Meaker came through the ranks at Rangers and made his debut as a 19 year-old in December 1990 in a 2-1 defeat to Manchester City. He would then go on to play for Rangers for five of their most successful seasons in seasons. Although never really a first-teamer with the R’s Meaker was part of the squad that finished top London side in 1993, and two more top half finishes in the Premier League earning Welsh U21 and B international caps along way. In 1995 after never cementing a permanent place in the R’s first team he made the switch to Jimmy Quinn’s Reading. Again at Reading Meaker was never a first team player and as the team became marooned at the bottom of the First Division Jimmy Quinn was sacked and replaced by Terry Buillivant and Meaker found himself surplus to requirements at Elm Park. He later turned out for Bristol Rovers and Plymouth before entering non-league football with Northwich Victoria. Now plays in the Welsh Western Leagues with Bitton and the QPR Masters team and runs a football academy at his local gym.

Links >>> Reading 0 QPR 0 Match Report >>> QPR 4 Reading 1 Match Report >>> Match Report Archive >>> Connections and Memories

This Tuesday
Team News: With two wins and a draw from his first three games Neil Warnock is likely to keep the same side for the fourth successive match. Tamas Priskin has been much maligned by the supporters since arriving from Ipswich but he continues to keep Marcus Bent out of the matchday squad altogether – Rangers can only name five of their six loan players in any one squad and Bent is the fall guy at the moment. Gavin Mahon and Martin Rowlands are the long term absentees but Warnock has no other injuries or suspensions to worry about.

Reading will take a late check on left back Andy Griffin who is on loan from Stoke City but missed the weekend action against Bristol City – Brynjar Gunnarsson filled in for him then and will do so again if he doesn’t make it.

Elsewhere: I’ve got to be honest I’d completely missed Coventry’s recent ascent up the table. The Sky Blues were absolutely awful in victory against us at the Ricoh a month or so ago but can move into the play off places this Tuesday if they, as I suspect they might, beat Cardiff City who are still in sixth but currently enduring their annual end of season collapse. Speaking of which, Sheff Utd have Blackpool at home in another battle for top six places. It really couldn’t be tighter down at the bottom with three teams on 38 points and one on 29. Scunthorpe are unlikely to get anything at Newcastle on Wednesday so a chance for Sheff Wed (at Preston), Palace (at home to Leicester) and Watford (against Ipswich) to pull away has presented itself. The Hornets can drag Ipswich back into things with a win at Vicarage Road. Rangers can rise three places if they win at Bristol City, Barnsley and Preston do not, but could also sink three with a defeat.

Referee: Rookie ref Gavin Ward, 28, takes charge of Rangers and Reading for the first time in his career in this his third season on the league list. Ward was a high profile linesman in the Premiership from a young age but more recently shot to fame as the referee who abandoned the Plymouth v Barnsley game rather abruptly midway through the second half with Barnsley leading 4-1. Thankfully the weather is set fair for Tuesday night. More details at the link below.

Links >>> Dean Sturridge Memorial Injury List >>> Arthur Gnohere Discipline Counter  >>> Ward in charge >>> Referee League

Form
Reading: It would seem that QPR are facing Reading at just the wrong time. For so long this season it looked as though the Royals would be relegated, and had we visited this ground before Christmas there’s a good chance we would have recorded our first win on it as they went to November without a success on their own patch. However they have won their last five home games, and seven of their last eight home and away, to go from second bottom to 16th and six points clear of the drop zone. Reading are now the Championship’s most in form team. QPR have not won in Reading since 1997. Reading have scored 11 goals in their last three home games, five against Sheff Wed and four against Derby, leaving them in very similar form to ourselves just before the corresponding fixture.

QPR: While Reading are suddenly imperious at home, QPR remain shocking on the road. The draw, that should really have been a win, at Sheffield United on Saturday made it eleven games on the road without a win but did at least bring an end to a run of four straight defeats on the road during which time Rangers failed to score once. The R’s have lost only one of their last five and won three of those to arrest a worrying slide towards the relegation places. They have conceded at least one goal in every away game they have played since September 19 when they won 2-0 at Cardiff – 16 matches ago. The R’s have won at Scunthorpe, Cardiff, Sheff Wed and Derby this season but their last away win was at the start of December.

Prediction: This will be a very serious test of the new Warnock reign, and one I fear may turn out to be just beyond our side. Reading are in terrific form, particularly at home, and QPR will have to work fiercely hard in the opening 20 minutes to contain and frustrate the Royals. If they can do that then another draw may be their reward, and I’m always inclined to say that when a team is on a long winning run like Reading they have to come unstuck somewhere, but I have to say I reckon a narrow defeat will be inflicted on us this Tuesday.
Reading by the odd goal in three

Links >>> Championship Table >>> Total Form >>> Home Form >>> Away Form >>> Prediction League >>> Fantasy League

Photo: Action Images via Reuters