#reabir

[the-necessary-unnecessary]

I turn over to watch the Blues match and instantly Reading scores, I think I may be cursed....

[dannyboyk2000]

Reading vs Birmingham (EFL Championship) Match Preview; 5th May

Reading take on Birmingham City on the last day of the season, looking to end on a high note after a turbulent season for the Royals.

They will desperately be craving the win to celebrate Portugal Day- to remember the brilliant job current manager Jose Gomes has done since coming in to the club.

The side from Berkshire’s last game in the Championship was last Saturday when they lost 2-1 away against play off chasing Middlesbrough.

One bright light that came out of that game last week was that Danny Loader scored his first goal for the first team.

Birmingham come into this game trying to  make it 7 unbeaten in the league, after a good run of form towards the end of the season.

They have also had a turbulent season after their 12 point deduction which put them in threat of relegation at the time. However, this brilliant recent from from the Blues has seen them pull away from the relegation battle.

Birmingham drew 1-1 at home to Wigan in their latest Championship game last Saturday.

Recent form for both sides in the Championship

Reading- D/W/D/D/L

Birmingham- D/D/D/W/D

TV/Game information

This game is not being televised.

The best way to keep up with the game is by watching Gillette Soccer Sunday in this instance!

The game kicks off at 12:30pm (UK time) and is being played at the Madejski Stadium.

Team News Reading

John O’Shea will be hoping to return for his last professional appearance before he retires.

Reading stars Yakou Meite and Nelson Oliveira are out with injuries.

John Swift and Tyler Blackett are likely to miss this game through injury aswell.

However Saeed Ezatolahi and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson are both in line to make appearances in this game after returning from injury.

Birmingham City 

Birmingham will have late decisions to make as they bid to stretch their unbeaten run to seven games.

Blues boss Garry Monk says he has some "knocks and bruises" in his squad.

Predicted starting elevens 

Reading’’s predicted starting XI (4-2-3-1)- Martinez; Yiadom, Miazga, Moore, Gunter; Baker, Rinomhota; Barrow, Loader, Ejaria; Bodvarsson. 

Birmingham’s predicted starting XI (4-4-2)- Camp; Colin, Harding, Roberts, Pedersen; Jota, G.Gardner, Lakin, Maghoma; Adams, Jutkiewicz.

Manager Comments Reading Manager: Jose Gomes (Quotes Credit- Jonathan Low)

Looking forward to the summer

“The season will finish on Sunday and then it's about tough and hard work preparing for pre-season.

Now is time to prepare the best we can for Birmingham and try to show our fans we can play a good game, play good football, do positive things and try and finish the league with a positive energy.”

Birmingham being easier compared with previous games

“Birmingham are a tough team. When they had nine points taken off they were very near to the play-off positions.

“Physically they are very strong, direct football, tough players, very good dynamic so it will be a very difficult game.”

Aims for the transfer window

“I would like to fix everything before we start. I will talk with all the players I am not counting with after Sunday, it's also a sign of respect for them - giving the time to find a better solution for their career.

“And I will try to bring in and sign the new players as soon as possible. This way I can organise the squad in time for July 1 so we have the players we are counting on for pre-season.”

Birmingham Manager: Gary Monk (Quotes Credit- Official Birmingham Twitter account)

GM: "The ultimate aim is to end the season on a high, that unbeaten tag is still there and we want to finish it off, the players want to give it all they can to end the season unbeaten, with another three points." 

GM: "Just because of it being the last game and being in the position we are in, that we are safe, we still want to win the game and finish the season on a high note, we want to do that on Sunday with the right performance and the standard that we have set all season." 

GM: "We want to try & win the game, same as every other game, @ReadingFC have got themselves safe, it is their last home game, we have to be ready for what is coming from them, but more importantly we need to try and impose ourselves on them and cause them problems." 

Head to Head record   

These two sides have met 38 times over the years in all competitions, with Birmingham just shading the head to head record. The Blues have beaten Reading 14 times in all competitions, including their latest win earlier this season against the Royals, when they beat them 2-1 at Saint Andrews in the Championship.

There have been 11 draws between these two sides in all competitions over the years.

And the Royals have beaten Birmingham 13 times in all competitions. So can they win on the weekend to level up the head to head record?

Betting Odds/Match Predictions

Birmingham have been made favourites by Sky Bet to pick up the three points in this  match, with a Blues win being priced at 6/4. A draw between these two sides is being priced at 12/5. And a Reading home win is being priced at 13/8.

My realistic prediction for this game as a journalist is a 2-1 tight Birmingham home win. I think we have so many injuries and they are in form at the moment.

My optimistic prediction as a Reading fan is a 1-0 Royals home win, with Barrow scoring the only goal of the game.

Comment down below your score predictions and your predicted line ups.

By Danyal Khan