9:25AM, Sat Sep 29, 2012

Premier League Preview: Reading v Newcastle

Sky Bet

£10 Free Bet
- Sky Bet are offering all new customers a £10 Free Bet Claim your free bet now

Newcastle will be aiming to secure their first away win of the season when they travel to bottom-of-the-table Reading.

Royals boss Brian McDermott will be desperate to claim his first three points of the season whilst Newcastle will look to maintain a good run of form which has seen them lose just once this season.

It will also see Alan Pardew return to the Madejski Stadium where he spent four years in charge up to 2003 before his departure to West Ham United.

History wise it is fairly level, the two clubs have only met four times in the top-flight, all Premier League games stretching from 2006 to 2008. Since then both sides have been up and down. Indeed their last clashes were in the Championship in 2009/10 when Newcastle did the double.

Reading come into the game on a three-match losing streak, something they will be desperate to put right. Newcastle have picked up just one point on the road so far, and that was a fortunate draw at Everton.

Team News

Papiss Cisse will be looking to start the match after coming off the bench to open his account for the season in the League Cup defeat at Manchester United on Wednesday.

VIDEO: Alan Pardew previews his side's trip to Reading

Cheick Tiote started at Old Trafford after being sidelined for a number of weeks and he looks set to continue at Reading for his first Premier League start since the opening day.

Fabricio Coloccini played an hour in midweek due to a recent hamstring problem, but he should be fine to start alongside Steven Taylor.

Yohan Cabaye, Jonas Gutierrez, Hatem Ben Arfa and Demba Ba will all likely return after missing the Man United clash.

Reading striker Jason Roberts could make his first appearance of the season on Saturday. A calf injury has sidelined the former Blackburn man so far this term, but he is now in contention to play.

Mali winger Jimmy Kebe played against QPR in midweek and his hamstring problem will be assessed before the match, but he is likely to feature.

Hal Robson-Kanu, who started at Loftus Road, will hope to keep his place in the side but Jobi McAnuff could return.

Chris Gunter, Garath McCleary and Danny Guthrie will be hoping for recalls after sitting out the QPR match. Goalkeeper Adam Federici remains a doubt with a knee injury.

Opta Facts

Newcastle have drawn 99 games away from home in the Premier League era
Jonas Gutierrez has been fouled more often than any other player this season (16 times)
Reading have conceded fewer fouls than any other team in the top flight this season (37).

Related tags: Sport

Related tags: Football

Transfer Talk: Sunderland In For Striker Charlie Austin?

Related tags: Newcastle

Barclays Premier League

Pos	Team	P	Pts
14	Southampton	38	41
15	Aston Villa	38	41
16	Newcastle United	38	41
17	Sunderland	38	39
18	Wigan Athletic	38	36

Fixtures & Results

April

Europa League Group D - Thu 4
FT	Benfica	3-1	Newcastle
Barclays Premier League - Sun 7
FT	Newcastle	1-0	Fulham
Europa League Group D - Thu 11
FT	Newcastle	1-1	Benfica
Barclays Premier League - Sun 14
FT	Newcastle	0-3	Sunderland
Barclays Premier League - Sat 20
FT	West Brom	1-1	Newcastle
Barclays Premier League - Sat 27
FT	Newcastle	0-6	Liverpool

May

Barclays Premier League - Sat 4
FT	West Ham	0-0	Newcastle
Barclays Premier League - Sun 12
FT	QPR	1-2	Newcastle
Barclays Premier League - Sun 19
FT	Newcastle	0-1	Arsenal