Northampton (H) Match Preview

The Royals are back in action on Tuesday night with a Carling Cup 2nd round tie against Northampton, looking to continue our recent good cup form.

We overcame Torquay in round 1 after extra time thanks to a goal from the now departed Grzegorz Rasiak and we will need to perform better than we did that night to beat Northampton.

The visitors though were beaten heavily at Plainmoor on the opening day of the season, and are yet to win in the league so far this season.

Royals manager Brian McDermott -

'Tuesday can't come quick enough, we want to get straight back out there and we want to win. We might be unbeaten in three but we want to turn those draws into wins.'

Noel Hunt is sure to start at Brian McDermott looks to improve the strikers match fitness after a long lay off. He is likely to partner Nicholas Bignall who also started at Torquay.

Several players will be rested including the likes of Gylfi Sigurdsson and Shane Long. Adam Federici will also take a backseat in this one as Ben Hamer is favoured in goal, but the Australian has already been told he will start at Leicester on Saturday despite his error against Forest at the weekend.

Andy Griffin, Jay Tabb, Ivar Ingimarsson and Chris Armstrong will all be missing through injury.

2nd choice keeper is waiting in the wings for a chance in the first team, and following an error by Federici at the weekend, he will be knocking on the door. Will be given another run out in the Carling Cup and will be keen to extend our cup run, so he gets more games.

Right back John Johnson is struggling with a groin problem and is likely to miss the game and he will join a number of players on the sidelines.

Chris Dunn, Craig Hinton and Liam Davis will also miss the game through injury.

Well travelled striker found the net at the weekend against Bury, and will be keen to impress on a bigger stage than he is used to.

1st April 2002, Reading 0-0 Northampton.

On paper this should be an easier fixture than Torquay was, but football is not played on paper! I still back us to win, even with an inexperienced side - 3-1.

Saturday 28th August 2010, Leicester (A)

Vital F1 Prediction League - Join now for Monaco