Reading v Bristol City

Last updated : 24 December 2010 By BBC Sport

Bristol City have been affected by a sickness bug ahead of the game and will need to assess several players.

Louis Carey is one of them, which could scupper his return following six weeks out with a calf problem.

MATCH PREVIEW

Reading, who are seventh in the table, have not lost on Boxing Day for seven years and have won nine of their last 13 home matches against Bristol City.

Those stats offer some encouragement to a Royals side that has drawn four consecutive home games and nine of their fixtures this season. Had only a couple of those been victories, they would be in the play-off zone rather than just outside it.

They ended a run of five successive draws, and notched a first win in seven matches, when they beat Derby last time out. That 2-1 victory was secured by a brace from forward Shane Long, who is in line for his 150th appearance for the Berkshire club.

City's 2-0 defeat at Hull came after a three-match winning run. But the Robins still have reason to be cheerful, not least because of their impressive defending. They have kept seven clean sheets this season, and four of them have come in their last six games.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Bristol City beat Reading 1-0 earlier in the season and another win against the Royals would complete their first league double over them for a decade.

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• City have not had a goalless draw at Reading since their first ever visit, in 1922.

Reading

• Reading have not lost a game this season after scoring the first goal, and not won one after conceding the opener.

• Only Derby have a longer goalscorers list than Reading, for whom 12 different players have netted league goals this term.

Bristol City

• Of City's 216 attempts on goal this season, 60% (130) have been on target. It is the best accuracy rate in the Championship.

• Swansea are the only side outside of the bottom four that the Robins have managed to win away against.

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport