Cardif v Reading. Match preview

Last updated : 05 May 2018 By Michael Morris

C:WindowsTempphpD4DE.tmpThe simple outcome for Cardiff City to be promoted on Sunday is to beat Reading.

Then Cardiff will go up to the Premier League and there will be nothing Fulham can do about it.

City need to match Fulham's results so the Bluebirds could still go up with a draw or a defeat providing Fulham do no better.

There will be a sell out 32,000 or more crowd at CCS with around 2,000 Reading fans making the trip. They are not safe from relegation but it would take a specific set of results to see them go down.

Cardiff are without Aron Gunnarsson for what they hope will be a promotion party at home to Reading on Sunday, live on Sky Sports Football from 12pm (ko 12:30pm)

The Iceland midfielder has undergone knee surgery this week and misses out as Cardiff chase the win which will take them into the Premier League.

Marko Grujic or Craig Bryson are the favourites to replace Gunnarsson, who still hopes to make next month's World Cup in Russia. Bluebirds boss Neil Warnock also has to decide who gets the nod up up front between Kenneth Zohore and Gary Madine.

Reading welcome back defender Paul McShane (groin) and winger Callum Harriott (hamstring) as they seek the point which will almost certainly guarantee their Championship status. Defender Leandro Bacuna is also available after completing a three-match suspension.

Loan signing Tommy Elphick is contention for only his second Royals start after recovering from a knee problem. But fellow defender Tyler Blackett misses out again after his recent red card at Sheffield Wednesday.

Opta stats

Cardiff have won three of their last four home league meetings with Reading (L1) although they lost 1-0 last season.

The Royals are unbeaten in their last four league games against Cardiff (W2 D2).

Cardiff have won 13 of their 20 Championship games in 2018 - only Fulham have won more since the turn of the year (16).

By contrast, only Sunderland (two) have won fewer Championship games than Reading (three) in 2018.

Neil Warnock is set to face Reading in a home match for the first time since November 2010 with QPR, a 3-1 win - his last six games against them have all been at the Madejski Stadium.

Junior Hoilett has both scored more goals (nine) and provided more assists (11) this season than he has in any of his previous eight seasons in England.

Match Officials

ROBERT MADLEY
Harry Lennard and Marc Perry
Fourth Official: Oliver Langford