Cardiff v Reading Preview
Both of these sides were expected to challenge for the playoffs, or even automatic promotion, at the start of the season but only one team has lived up to that hype. After years of coming so close, Cardiff finally look set to feature in the play offs although Dave Jones will probably feel more comfortable should the Bluebirds net an extra point or two. Reading on the other hand have made good progress in 2010 and while they won’t be featuring in the playoffs, they’ve moved well away from the relegation places they were fritting with throughout the first half of the campaign.
They may have problems off the field, but Cardiff have prospered on it and Bluebirds supporters should all be looking forward to a stint in the playoff fixtures. While they have been fairly consistent for much of the season, it’s recent results that have cemented their position and they currently sit in 4th place. There’s a six point cushion between them and 7th place Blackpool and with four games remaining you’d think it’d be unlikely for them to let this one slip. They should also enter the playoffs in good form, with Dave Jones’ men winning four of their last six and looking every bit the side that’s looking for promotion.
Reading endured a disastrous start to the season and after failing to make his mark, Brendan Rodgers, only appointed in the summer, departed the club in December. Brian McDermott was handed the reigns and that move by chairman John Madejski has worked wonders and Reading have pulled well clear of the bottom three. The Royals are sat in 12th position on fifty five points and having lost just once in the league since February, they are another side in a rich vein of form.
Dave Jones has a few worries coming into this game though and the Bluebirds boss could be forced into changes. Gavin Rae has already been ruled out for the rest of the season through an ankle injury but his problems don’t stop there. Kevin McNaughton, Peter Whittingham and Chris Burke are all carrying injuries and Cardiff have penciled all three in for late fitness tests. Reading don’t have anywhere near as many problems and the only new piece of team news for them surrounds Matt Mills. The former Doncaster defender will start a four game ban after seeing red in the Royals’ game against Ipswich.
Cardiff look set to enter the playoffs in great form but we’re not too sure if they’ll get all the points in this one. The Bluebirds know that they just have to finish the season steadily to secure that top six placing and because of that, we’re going to predict a 1-1 draw in this one.
