Hoop Dreams - QPR FC

Had these two clubs met just two or three weeks ago, this game would have taken on the complexion of a relegation six-pointer. Though neither side is certain of playing in the Championship next season, upturns in form for both have allowed their supporters to relax somewhat. Both sit on 44 points and will know that two or three more wins should guarantee them safety. After that, they can start to look up the table and see how high a finish they could possibly achieve. But first things first.... 

Reading Team News

On-loan defender Andy Griffin, an arrival from Stoke City in January, could return to the Royals' starting line-up after recovering from a hamstring strain. He will be given a late fitness test ahead of tonight's game. Two of the club's midfielders though, Jem Karacan and Kalifa Cisse, are unlikely to start - both rated as a couple of weeks away from first-team football.

The player to currently watch in the Reading side is Gylfi Sigurdsson. The midfielder is Reading's top scorer with twelve goals in all competitions, including both goals in the weekend's 2-0 win over Bristol City. Alongside his goalscoring, he also offers frighteningly accurate crosses and dead-ball delivery which will require maximum concentration of the Hoops' defenders.

QPR Team News

No fresh injury concerns for QPR, but Marcus Bent could miss out again as Neil Warnock tries to balance the number of loan players at the club - only five can be named in the match-day squad. Lee Cook was a late substitute on Saturday to replace Hogan Ephraim - perhaps Warnock will bring in a measure of squad rotation to get a proper look at Cook tonight. Akos Buzsaky will not want to spend too many more games on the bench either, but whilst the team is playing well and with more tailor-made wingers at the club, he could be left on the sidelines once more. I wouldn't expect too many changes from Saturday's side anyhow, with Tamas Priskin and Jay Simpson likely to lead the line once again.

Form

Since the turn of the year Reading's form has been steadily improving and so where they were once seriously flirting with the drop, they are now putting together a run which should soon see them safe. They've also been putting the ball into the net with greater frequency. In their last five games, they've put four past Derby County, five past Sheffield Wednesday and three past West Bromwich Albion and came close to causing an FA Cup upset against Aston Villa.

For Rangers, it's much the same as prior to the Sheffield United game. Warnock has achieved a number of things already in his short time at the club, including recording back-to-back wins and inspiring Rangers to their first clean sheet in donkeys' years. Now he has to try to deal with another albatross around QPR's neck - their inability to win on the road. It's November since their last away victory and just as Sheffield United was a tough ask to break that run, considering Reading's form, it may not be any easier tonight.

I believe, with the new manager in place, Rangers should have enough at home until the end of the season to be comfortably above the relegation area. But it would do wonders for their resurgent confidence to increase their points haul away from Loftus Road. If they win tonight it would also be their first league double of the season after beating the Royals 4-1 at home in back in October.

Prediction

Both teams have greatly changed since that game though. QPR were at the height of their powers then but a storm was brewing behind the scenes which they are only now starting to get over. Reading on the other hand were absolutely wretched then and for some weeks after.

That defeat at Loftus Road formed part of four defeats in a row and it could be argued that for once, a cup run actually helped a team's league form as their results greatly improved after their shock win at Anfield at the start of January.

That result alone shows what Reading are capable of and in Sigurdsson they have one of the best players outside the Premiership. QPR could make a case for placing Taarabt in the same bracket and tonight's contest could be a question of which of those two players can most greatly influence affairs. It's hard to bet against either side tonight, so I'm sitting on the fence - I'm expecting a highly entertaining score draw, possibly 2-2.

Prediction - 2-2