Sheffield United vs. Reading
Tuesday, 15th February 2011
npower Championship
@ Bramall Lane – Kick-Off: 7:45pm
Sheffield United and Reading attempt to play this Championship fixture for the second time, when in early December 2010 the game was called off just a few days prior due to heavy snow storms which threatened the safety of the fans.
Over the weekend, the Blades thought that they had snatched a victory for the first time in 2011 when a Daniel Bogdanovic penalty put the home side 1-0 up against Millwall with 15 minutes remaining.
United huffed and puffed for that vital second goal, this didn’t come and was cruelly punished at the death when Steve Simonsen failed to catch a cross with Kevin Lisbie laying in wait to score!
Blades boss Micky is without a number of players; Joe Mattock (knee), Ched Evans (ill), Ryan France (back), Richard Wright (thigh), Darius Henderson (hamstring) and Andy Taylor (leg) are all missing through injury.
He is also without defender Robert Kozluk who serves the second of a three match ban following his late sending off at Ipswich Town little over a week ago; Stephen Jordan is expected to re-claim his place. However he is boosted by the return of Lee Williamson from suspension.
Darius Henderson started his professional playing career with Reading in August 1999, though he didn't make his debut until March 2000 in a 3-0 defeat at Burnley. He saw limited opportunities with the Royals and moved onto Brighton & Hove Albion on loan before completing a move to Gillingham in January 2004.
In all he made just 17 (+71) appearances for the Berkshire club and scored 15 
goals.
Expected Eleven: Simonsen, Parrino, Collins, Lowry, Jordan, Ward, Williamson, Montgomery, Cresswell, Bogdanovic, Bent.
Reading travel to Bramall Lane on back of a 2-1 defeat at Norwich City last Saturday; the Canaries had taken the lead through Henri Lansbury (16 minutes) but the Royals hit back ten minutes later – Shane Long, scoring his fourteenth of the season.
Shortly after the hour the visitors saw Jem Karacan sent off for a terrible tackle on David Fox before, deep into injury time City netted their eighth stoppage time goal via Grant Holt – also his fourteenth of the season. It was the Royals fifth game without a league win!
The Royals will now be without Jem Karacan following his straight dismissal at Carrow Road; he will also be made unavailable for the double home fixtures with Watford and Millwall.
Midfielder Mike Leigertwood, on loan from Queens Park Rangers is also unavailable due to suspension; he sits out the second of a third match ban following his charge of violent conduct by the FA in a game against Cardiff City.
Midfielder Mikele Leigertwood is unlikely to start against his former club. He was signed by Neil Warnock for £600,000 in July 2006 (from Crystal Palace), following there promotion to the Premier League.
He stayed at the Lane for just twelve months, joining Queens Park Rangers in a £900,000 deal having made19 (+4) appearances for the Blades. He recently joined Reading on loan and made his Royals debut in the draw against Leeds.
Other former Blades on Reading’s books are Brian Howard and Chris Armstrong. Following a successful 3 month loan spell Howard joined United in a permanent transfer from Barnsley in January 2009 and went onto make 32 (+7) appearances for the Bramall Lane club; notching three goals. He joined the Royals in September of the same year.
Meanwhile; Armstrong made 84 (+21) appearances for United and scored six goals – he had initially been signed by Neil Warnock in August 2003, making his debut in an opening day 0-0 draw with Gillingham. He transferred to Reading five years later.
Expected Eleven: Federici, Mills, Harte, Griffin, Ingimarsson, Tabb, Howard, Kebe, Gunnarsson , Robson-Kanu, Long.