SAFC v Reading

Taken from the Clubs official web site: -

A list of need-to-know info and stats ahead of Sunderland's clash with Reading at the Stadium of Light.
Team news: • Mart Poom - continuing rehabilitation. • Stephen Wright - suffered a dead leg Tuesday night, hopeful for Saturday. • Gary Breen - minor groin problem, is currently being monitored. • Liam Lawrence - minor post-match groin problem, he is hoping to be fir for Saturday. • Colin Healy - continues running and light ball work outside. • Kevin Kyle - played in reserves last night and awaiting any possible reaction to his hip injury.
Other news: • Sunderland have now won eight league games in a row, scoring 19 goals and averaged just under 2.5 goals a game in those eight games. • They are now five points clear of both Ipswich and eight clear of Wigan. • At home, Sunderland have won 14, drawn four and lost just two (scored 41, conceded 18). • Sunderland's goal difference is +33; Wigan +38; Ipswich +27. • Their form guide is: W W W W W W • Marcus Stewart now has 16 league and cup goals, the club's leading scorer. Stephen Elliott has 14.
The visitors: • Reading have a fairly good recent record, winning 11 points from their last 18. • They are currently fifth in the Championship after winning 2-1 at home to Millwall on Tuesday night. • Away from home this season, they have played 20, won five, drawn six and lost nine, scoring 15 goals and conceding 23. • Their top goalscorer is striker Dave Kitson, who is the Championship's seventh top scorer. Nicky Forster has eight goals. • Midfielder Glen Little is a doubt with a groin strain today. He could be replaced by Paul Brooker after he made an impressive substitute appearance on Tuesday. • Manager Steve Coppell this week signed a one-year extension to his current deal, with now runs until summer 2006. • Their league form guide is: D W L W D W
Head-to-head: • The two clubs are neck-and-neck with previous results - they have met 14 times before Saturday's game (five Sunderland wins, five Reading wins and four draws). • Reading beat Sunderland earlier this season, a Nicky Forster goal giving them a 1-0 win back in August. • Last season, Sunderland won both fixtures 2-0. • Reading's last win on Wearside was back in the old Division One on 3rd December 1994, a Scott Taylor goal earning them three points at Roker Park.
Sunderland's remaining games:
Saturday 9th April: Reading (H) 12.45pm (SKY SPORTS)
Sunday 17th April: Ipswich Town (A) 12 noon (SKY SPORTS)
Saturday 23rd April: Leicester City (H) 3pm
Friday 29th April: West Ham United (A) 7.45pm (SKY SPORTS)
Sunday 8th May: Stoke City (H) 1pm