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West Ham United
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Npower Championship
Venue: Madejski Stadium
Date: Saturday 10 August Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage: Watch highlights on The Football League Show; listen on BBC Radio 5 live extra and BBC local radio;
Saturday, 10 December 2011
Championship
TEAM NEWS
Reading welcome back skipper Jobi McAnuff after he was suspended for picking up five bookings this season.
Full-back Joseph Mills is fit once more and will challenge Ian Harte for the left-back slot, and striker Noel Hunt has recovered from a head injury.
West Ham could be without Matt Taylor at Reading after he limped off against Burnley last week.
Defender Winston Reid (hamstring) and striker Sam Baldock (shoulder) are missing because of injuries.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• Reading have won half of their eight league meetings with West Ham.
• Only one of West Ham's three league victories over the Royals was away from home; 3-0 in their most recent visit in September 2007 (Premier League).
• There has never been a draw between these clubs in a league match on Reading soil
Reading
• Mid-table Reading are vying for a fourth win in six games, as Brian McDermott completes his first year since taking the reins at the Madejski.
• The Royals have picked up an unrivalled 11 Championship points from matches in which they have conceded two or more goals.
• A share of the spoils would take their all-time total of home draws in second tier football to 100, while defeat would be their fourth in a league game at the Madejski and equal the total suffered there in the Championship last term.
West Ham United
• 2nd placed West Ham, two points off the pace, saw their seven-game unbeaten sequence ended by Burnley at Upton Park last Saturday. Now they must avoid their first back-to-back defeats of the season.
• The Hammers, who have the strongest away record in the Championship, are endeavouring to complete five away league victories for the first time since December 1985 in the top-flight.
• Sam Allardyce's side need to score one goal to total 800 away from home in second level league football.