Reading v Scunthorpe United
at the Madejski Stadium
Saturday, December 12, 2009 - 3.00pm

The Iron will be aiming to make it four Championship games unbeaten when they visit Reading on Saturday (3.00pm kick-off).

United head to the Madejski Stadium on the back of an excellent away draw at Barnsley, which came following a home win over Coventry City and a draw against high-flying Leicester City at Glanford Park.

Currently sitting 18th in the league table, victory for Scunthorpe could see them climb above Derby and Doncaster should other results go their way.

Manager Nigel Adkins will be missing the services of goalkeeper Joe Murphy, who serves a one-match suspension after collecting five bookings over the course of the season. Josh Lillis looks set to come in for the Republic of Ireland international shotstopper, who serves his second suspension of the season after being sent off at Blackpool and serving a subsequent one game suspension against Watford.

Marcus Williams came off with a head injury during Wednesday's 1-1 draw at Oakwell but he looks set to return to the side after recovering, while George Friend, who was forced off after replacing Williams with a facial injury, should also be available.

Michael O'Connor missed the midweek match with a dead leg but he will be part of the squad that travels down to the Madejski Stadium, and looks likely to be involved.

Martyn Woolford has a bruised foot and is on crutches at the moment so looks unlikely to appear against the Royals.

Ben May (ankle) and Kenny Milne (knee) continue to miss out.

The banned Murphy apart, Adkins could keep faith with a side that performed so admirably at Barnsley. Garry Thompson, making his first league start of the season, excelled as part of a five-man midfield.

Reading could welcome Wales international striker Simon Church back to the fold. He missed the Royals' 4-2 home defeat to Crystal Palace on Tuesday evening with a back problem.

Fellow frontman Shane Long will be missing for the match though as he serves the third and final game of his suspension. He was dismissed in the 2-1 home defeat to Derby at the end of November.

They will also be without long-term absentees Noel Hunt (knee) and Brian Howard, who broke his jaw during the Derby match.

The referee for the game is Tony Bates, from Staffordshide, who last refereed the Iron when they beat Sheffield United 3-1 at Glanford Park.

See much more from Nigel Adkins and Michael O'Connor on The Iron Player.

TICKET NEWS

The Iron have so far sold 250 tickets ahead of the match.

Scunthorpe have been handed 500 tickets for the clash at the Madejski Stadium, with them available from the Glanford Park ticket office until 2.00pm on Friday.

Tickets will be available from the stadium on the day, but will cost £4.00 more. Fans buying on the day are advised to arrive early to avoid queues.

Onsale Dates
Group	Online	Box Office
Season Ticket Holders	Now	Now
Members	Now	Now
General Sale	Now	Now

READING (AWAY) SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12
Tickets available up until 2:00pm on Friday, December 11
Allocation: 500 initially.
STAND	ADULT	Senior/U21	U16
Season Ticket/Iron Members	£22.50	£16.50	£11.50	Buy
Non-Members	£24.50	£18.50	£13.50
Matchday	£26.50	£20.50	£15.50

THIS WEEK'S OTHER CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES



SATURDAY
Barnsley v Newcastle, 15:00
Coventry v Peterborough, 15:00
Doncaster v Bristol City, 15:00
Ipswich v Blackpool, 15:00
Leicester v Sheff Wed, 15:00
Preston v Plymouth, 15:00
Sheff Utd v Crystal Palace, 15:00
Swansea v Nottm Forest, 15:00
Watford v Derby, 15:00

SUNDAY
Middlesbrough v Cardiff, 13:15

MONDAY
West Brom v QPR, 19:45