Boxing Day Preview

The Royals will be looking for revenge after the embarassing 0-3 defeat to West Ham at the Madejski stadium earlier this season.

Reading visit Upton Park on boxing day in good form as they look to record their first away win of the season.

Steve Coppell will be hoping for his Reading side to put in an impressive display in front of the Sky camera's and erase the painful memory of the 0-3 drubbing in September.

Matt Le Tissier on Reading;

'It was ridiculous to suggest Steve Coppell was ever under pressure, but I am glad he has turned it around.

'The 3-1 win over Liverpool showed just how far they have come from what must have been pretty dark days at the start of the season and, as fortunate as Stephen Hunt's winner was against Sunderland, it was still three more points and Reading are up and running again.'

West Ham are still without a host of big names including Craig Bellamy and Matthew Etherington, the goalscorers from the previous meeting with Reading.

Carlton Cole is back from suspension and James Collins and Luis Boa Morte face late fitness tests.

Ashton has been unlucky with injuries over the last year but is starting to look back to his very best.

Reading have no fresh injury worries ahead of the trip to Upton Park.

The only decision is whether to rest Brynjar Gunnarsson, who played through a knee injury during the win at home to Sunderland on saturday.

Michael Duberry is again in contention after recovering from a rib injury.

Hunt has been linked with a move away from the Madejski Stadium in recent weeks, but Steve Coppell has moved quickly to deny these rumours.

The pesky Irishman has scored three goals in his last three games and will be a real handful for West Ham.

West Ham have only won twice at home this season, Reading on the other hand have picked up only two points away from home.

In the seven league meetings between the clubs, there has yet to be a draw.

This is a very tough game to call. Reading have been poor away from home this season, and West Ham haven't been the best in front of their home fans. With revenge on the minds of the Reading players following the dissapointing defeat in September, I fancy Reading to make a game of this. My prediction; West Ham 2-2 Reading

Tottenham (a) 29/12/07

Portsmouth (h) 01/01/08

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