Plymouth Argyle v Reading
Reading v Plymouth
Coca Cola Championship
Venue: Madejski Stadium Date: Tuesday, 9 February 2010 Kick-off: 2000 GMT
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC local radio
TEAM NEWS
Reading central defender Matt Mills is suspended, so Alex Pearce or Zurab Khizanishvili will start in his place.
Midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson missed out against Doncaster on Saturday after taking a knock to his foot, but he could return for Tuesday’s match.
Plymouth’s Karl Duguid has been ruled out after turning his ankle just before half-time in Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat against West Brom.
David McNamee, who replaced him at right-back, is set to start.
Improving Reading, who have won their last two matches, will take another big step in the right direction – and away from fellow strugglers Plymouth – if they win this crucial match at the Madejski Stadium.
Saturday’s hard-fought victory at Doncaster was another encouraging sign for Royals manager Brian McDermott, whose side could climb out of the bottom three if they claim another three points.
Plymouth can ill afford for that to happen. Argyle are one place off the foot of the Championship – five points behind Reading – and are in danger of being cut adrift. They could even end up bottom of the table if they lose and Peterborough win at Cardiff.
Boss Paul Mariner hailed his players’ spirit after their defeat against high-flying West Brom and urged them to keep fighting to stay up. A win on Tuesday night would be a massive boost for the Pilgrims, who have played at least one game less than the other teams in the bottom seven.
MATCH FACTS
• Plymouth pulled off the club’s biggest win over Reading in 27 years when they triumphed 4-1 at Home Park in December.
• The Pilgrims have not completed a league double over Reading since March 1971, when they met in the old Third Division.
Reading
• Reading, who have won their last two games, are hoping to record three successive league victories for the first time since December 2008.
• They have the worst home record in the Championship of two wins, 12 points and only 10 goals scored in 13 outings.
Plymouth
• Plymouth have lost more league matches (17) and scored fewer goals (23) than any other team in the division.
• Argyle have gone 13 matches without a draw.