Watford (H) match preview

Brendan Rodgers comes up against his old club Watford in a massive game on Saturday as the Royals go in search of our first three points at home since January.

Since I've been here the fans here have been great, even when results haven't been going well, they've stuck by the team which is a massive thing. I fully expect the same on Saturday, hopefully we can give them something more to cheer about.

Ivar Ingimarsson is likely to come into the starting line up and could replace Alex Pearce. Jobi McAnuff is fit again after a back injury and played 60 minutes for the reserves in midweek and he could be on the bench but Shane Long will miss out again.

The Royals have won just one game at home in the league since Ingimarsson was injured back in January but the club captain is now fully fit and likely to take his place at the heart of the defence. He will bring some much needed experience to the back line.

Heider Helguson scored twice on his second debut for the Hornets last weekend but he is facing a late fitness test on a calf problem. Jay Demerit and Scott Severin are also out injured.

The young striker signed from Carlisle in the summer and has made a great start to life at Vicaridge Road and has scored 5 goals so far this season. He will surely give Ingimarsson and O'Dea a tough afternoon.

This fixture last season saw the Royals run out 4-0 winners on a cold Firday night in January. However it was the game earlier last season that courted most controversy with referee Stuart Atwell awarding Reading a goal that 'never was', in a 2-2 draw.

Rodgers will be keen to get a positive result against the Hornets but with the pressure building to get that result on home turf, it will be hard to come by. I could see us grabbing a point though, 1-1.

Tuesday 29th September 2009, Preston (A)

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