#premierleague2

Both Fulham U23s and Reading U23s are looking to make progress at different ends of the table in Premier League 2, division 2.

These two sides meet tomorrow night, at Craven Cottage, at 7pm (UK time).

Fulham U23s will be looking to move further away from bottom of the table Sunderland with a win on Friday night.

Fulham U23s problem this season has been their lack of goals, and they will be trying to improve on that stat when they play Reading U23s tomorrow night.

Can Fulham halt the negativity at the club after their first team were relegated from the Premier League this week after a 4-1 defeat at Watford?

Meanwhile, Reading come into this game on a much more positive note than Fulham. A win for the Royals tomorrow night will put them joint top of the table with current league leaders Wolves. However Wolves would have a game in hand of the club from Berkshire.

Reading U23’s last game came on Monday night, when they bowed out of the Premier League International cup with a 3-1 defeat to Bayern Munich II at the Madejski Stadium.

In terms of last league game for these sides in the Premier League 2; these two sides come into this game on the back of draws. Fulham picked up a 0-0 draw against West Brom U23s in their last match on March 11. Whilst Reading U23s drew 2-2 at home to Middlesbrough U23s on March 9.

The Royals top scorer is Josh Barrett, and he will be looking to add to his impressive goal scoring stats.

Recent form in the league for both teams;

Fulham U23s- L/L/L/L/D (most recent result)

Reading U23s- W/L/L/W/D (most recent result)

Team News

Fulham U23s

Manager Mark Pembridge is likely to name a similar line up to the team that started against West-Brom on March 11.

Reading U23s

The big team news confirmed today by Jose Gomes in his pre Hull press conference today is that striker Sam Baldock will play for the Reading U23s tomorrow.

Danny Loader is unlikely to be part of the squad for tomorrow night, as he is likely to be involved in the first team squad for Jose Gomes’s team’s trip to Hull on Saturday in the Championship.

Ryan East is out with a knee injury.

It is remained to be seen whether Olise and Osho will be involved in tomorrow’s game, as they could be in Jose Gomes’s squad for the Hull trip.

Predicted starting XIs

Fulham U23’s (Manager- Mark Pembridge) - Wickens; Steven Sessegnon (Ryan Sessegnon’s brother), Opoku, Jenz, Drameh; Francois, Edun; Santos-Clase, Kait, Harris; Timmy Abraham (Tammy Abraham’s brother).

Reading U23’S (Manager- Scott Marshall) - Boyce-Clarke, Howe, Medford-Smith, Holmes, McIntyre; Osho, Frost, Holsgrove; Barrett, Olise, Liddle.

Head to Head record

    Reading-U23                Fulham-U23

Win        2                                   1

Loss       1                                  2

Draw     1                                   1

Goals per Match 2                 1.3

League Table      4.            11.

The last meeting between these two sides came earlier this season in the Premier League Cup, when Fulham U23s picked up an impressive 2-0 win over Reading U23s.

However in the league this season Reading won the reverse fixture 2-1.

Match prediction

My prediction for this match tomorrow night is a 2-1 Reading U23s away win. I think Barrett will socre two goals, and Timmy Abraham will score a consolation goal for Fulham U23s.

Expected crowd- around 350 fans.

Other games on the night in the same division

Southampton U23s host Norwich U23s. Manchester United U23s also play tomorrow against West Brom U23s.