Stoke after beating two play off contenders in Millwall & Sheffield United now have a different proposition of trying make it three wins out of three against relegation threatened Reading.

Reading we’re almost odds on to fill on off the 3 relegation spots but a change of manager and a few decent signing have gave them hope again.

New short term manager Paul Ince arrived shortly after his son and Stoke player Tom Ince was loaned to the Berkshire club. Since then their form has improved not drastically but enough to give them a shout of staying in the league. Paul Ince is a touch annoyed that Stoke have not allowed Tom to play against the Potters meaning he will need to tweak his tactics a bit for tonight’s game

Stoke have a few knocks from the Sheffield United game and are still waiting till the last minute to say who is fit.

Tonight’s game won’t be on sky’s Red Button due to it being a postponed game which wasn’t planned to be a midweek game. The tie was postponed due to Stoke entertaining Wigan in the FA Cup

How have we faired in previous meetings.

Tonight’s fixture will be the 56th meeting between the two sides

Stoke wins 20

Draws 18

Reading wins 17

The last meeting 

Stoke opened up this season with a good 3-2 win over tonight’s opponents, as the scoreline shows it was an open game with Powell, Brown and Surridge getting on the score sheet. Reading were a threat from set pieces with On loan defender Liam Moore scoring past the side he would join later in the season. Stand out player on the day though was Reading’s John Swift who’d I’d give my right arm to see in a Stoke shirt.

Form (last 4 games)

Stoke

Peterborough 2-2 Stoke

Cardiff 2-1 Stoke

Stoke 2-0 Millwall

Stoke 1-0 Sheffield United

Reading

Forest 4-0 Reading

Bournemouth 1-1 Reading

Reading 1-0 Blackburn

Barnsley 1-1 Reading

Reading have lost only 3 of the last 9 games, which is good considering they lost the previous 8 fixtures in a row

Who’s the threat

John Swift, John Swift and John Swift, he’s an unbelievable player that should be playing in the Premier league by now. The former Chelsea academy player is one of the stand out players in the league and despite Readings league position has 11 goals and 13 assists this season. Only 3 players have more goal involvements this season, his 24 involvements is 10 more than the highest at Stoke which is Jacob Brown

How could Stoke set up for the game.

Lewis Baker missed the last game due to a knock and could be passed fit if he came though yesterdays training session without a reaction.

What is your score Prediction?