Barclays Premier League

BATTLE OF THE MADEJSKI

Reading have come out on top here in what has been a fiercely contested battle between two old foes. The winning goal came on five minutes when James Collins' poor back pass was intercepted by Pavel Pogrebnyak, who finished low and hard past Jussi Jaaskelainen. As the game progressed the quality of the play dropped off and more and more fouls crept into the play, with a total of seven bookings given out. Reading will be delighted to have picked up another win, whilst Sam Allardyce will be unhappy that his side could not take anything from this game despite being on top for long periods. West Ham's miserable run at the Madesjki continues, whilst whispers of a revival around Berkshire get just that little bit louder. Reading 1, West Ham 0.

FULL TIME

The referee ends the game, and Reading have their second league win of the season!

POOR SPORTSMANSHIP

Both sides show poor attitude here. Firstly, Noel Hunt kicks the ball into the crowd after winning a corner in order to buy more time, before Joey O'Brien trips the Irishman as he walks away. Once again, Mr Oliver calms down both players.

ADDED TIME

Four minutes are signalled here.

A BIT EARLY FOR THAT

Reading win a free kick as Noel Hunt holds the ball by the corner flag. Ian Harte plays it to Hunt, who does exactly the same again. There are nearly three minutes left of play, plus added time, and it may be too early for that tactic.

POOR

Reading break forward and look set for a chance on goal, but Jem Karacan gets his pass all wrong and West Ham recover.

CLEVER

Jobi McAnuff uses his experience here and gives away a free kick when West Ham would have much preferred for play to continue.

HOW DOES HE MISS?!

West Ham should be level here. Matthew Jarvis sends in a wonderful cross from the left and finds Ricardo Vaz Te completely unmarked five yards from goal, but his downward header bobbles wide of the post. A complete hash of an excellent chance.

ANOTHER BOOKING

Nolan slides in from behind on Hal Robson-Kanu, and becomes the seventh player to pick up a booking. Both Nolan and James Collins are now suspended for West Ham's next game.

FINAL CHANGE

West Ham throw the dice one final time, with Modibo Maiga taking the place of Mark Noble.

BOOKING

Ian Harte takes one for the team, dragging Mark Noble down to prevent a break.

FIGHTING

Reading are desperately trying to keep the ball up in West Ham's end of the field, but their visitors are equally as desperate to get back into this tie. We're all set for a tense final ten minutes.

READING CHANGE

Hal Robson-Kanu takes the place of Jimmy Kebe , who takes his time to leave the field. Every second counts for Reading now.

NO FLOW

The game has degenerated and now has no rhythm. The fouls are coming in thick and fast and the mood on the pitch does not seem to be good.

CLEVER

West Ham try a cheeky free kick. Noble plays it low and soft to Nolan on the edge of the box, who lays it back to Noble. The midfielder's looping effort is close to dropping in, but hits the roof of the net.

HANDBAGS

Jimmy Kebe brings down Joey O'Brien, who reacts badly. The referee calls them both over and doesn't book either man, but warns them.

BOOKING AND CHANGE

Ricardo Vaz Te takes the place of Gary O'Neil for West Ham, whilst James Tomkins is booked for an earlier incident.

SO CLOSE!

Jem Karacan and Jimmy Kebe have chances for Reading within seconds of each other, and both are inches away from doubling the home side's lead.

READING CHANGE

Noel Hunt takes the place of Danny Guthrie, with Reading seemingly switching to a 4-4-2 formation.

WORKING HARD

Reading are doing well here to shackle the West Ham attacks. They have a chance of their own on the break but there just isn't enough bodies to make it count.

HEAT RISING

The Reading players surround the referee after Carlton Cole leaves Chris Gunter in a heap. Mr Oliver then calls both Jobi McAnuff and Kevin Nolan over and asks them to calm their teams down.

READING BOOKING

Alex Pearce is shown the yellow card for leading with his elbows when jumping with Kevin Nolan.

UP IN ARMS

The Reading fans know how important it is for their side to get a result here and are really cheering them on at any opportunity. The West Ham fans seem uncharacteristically quiet.

TUSSLES

This game is very, very fiesty. Carlton Cole and Alex Pearce get in each other's faces after a late tackle, before Pavel Pogrebnyak collides with Winston Reid in the air. Pogrebnyak has to be careful after his earlier booking.

WEST HAM CHANGE

Jack Collison comes on to the field in the place of Matthew Taylor.

OVER THE BAR

West Ham are attacking themselves, now. Matthew Jarvis works his way down the left wing and sends in a lovely cross, but Carlton Cole's header sails over the top.

POOR DECISION

Reading hit West Ham on the counter and find themselves in a four-on-three situation, but Jimmy Kebe is too selfish and is robbed of the ball.

ALL READING

West Ham look lost at sea here. Reading are able to move the ball around at will, and are even picking it up very easily due to the Hammers' wasteful possession.

EARLY PRESSURE

Reading start the second half as they ended the first, pressing forward and putting real pressure on West Ham's backline.

KICK OFF

West Ham start the second period, kicking from left to right.

GREAT GAME

Both of these sides are giving this a good go and Reading lead due to some poor James Collins defending and a cool Pavel Pogrebnyak finish. That said, there have been chances for both sides, and the match has been played with a typically fiery temper. There's more to come from this, I'm sure.

HALF TIME

The referee ends the half, with Reading ahead by one goal to nil.

BOOKING

James Collins is booked for a trip on Pavel Pogrebnyak, but only after a spell of play which saw Jobi McAnuff brought down. The hosts are dominating these last few minutes.

ADDED TIME

Two minutes are signalled as additional time.

NOT HAPPY

Gary O'Neil tries a bouncing shot from 25 yards, but it bobbles well wide. Carlton Cole in particular looks upset, as he was in plenty of space.

END TO END

This game has been played at a frantic pace, with both sides giving it their all. Reading hold the lead at the moment, but there's more goals in this I'm sure.

RUNNING IT DOWN

Both sides are running the clock down to the interval.

BOOKING

Pavel Pogrebnyak is the latest man to go into the referee's book for a late challenge of his own.

HANDFUL

Pavel Pogrebnyak is causing a lot of problems for Reid and Collins. The big Russian is moving well, holding up the ball, and winning crucial free kicks for his team.

UP AND ABOUT

Alex Pearce is back on his feet and back into play, with no blood or obvious injury.

BRAVE

Matthew Taylor sends a low cross in from the right aimed at Carlton Cole, but both Alex Pearce and Adam Federici go to claim it. Pearce comes off significantly worse and is still down with what appears to be a head injury.

CHANCE

Gary O'Neil gets his head on a cross from deep on the right but it sails over the top. West Ham are pressuring here.

POOR CROSS

Reading show some good skills when moving down the right wing with Karacan and Kebe, but when Chris Gunter gets involved he sends his cross right into the arms of Jussi Jaaskelainen.

GOOD SAVE

West Ham are on the charge here. Kevin Nolan swings a ball in from the left and Winston Reid is the man to meet it, but Adam Federici tips it over the bar.

GREAT MOVEMENT

Pogrebnyak and Kebe combine again, this time the former lays the ball off to the latter, and his cross-cum-shot rolls wide.

WASTE

Pavel Pogrebnyak and Jimmy Kebe have words here. The Malian controls a long ball and cuts the ball back, but Pogrebnyak doesn't get there in time. They seem to have resolved their differences though.

BOOKING

Mark Noble is shown a yellow card for a late, high lunge on Jimmy Kebe. Some of the Reading players want more than a yellow but it is the correct decision from Mr Oliver.

WORKING WELL

West Ham are slowly but surely making their way down the left flank with a series of free kicks and throw-ins. A free kick is swung in by Noble but Adam Federici claims well.

CREATING CHANCES

Both sides are using set-pieces to try and forge chances, but they haven't come to anything so far. James Tomkins swings one in from deep and it takes a hurried clearance from Jimmy Kebe to avert the danger.

SHOCKED

West Ham look a bit shell-shocked after that goal. It was a poor mistake by Collins but he is an experienced pro and will bounce back from it. Reading are not letting up and are going for another here.

TAXI FOR COLLINS

What an error from James Collins. The defender controls a harmless Reading long ball and tries to pass it back to Jussi Jaaskelainen. However, he woefully underhits it and Pavel Pogrebnyak is on to it in a flash, bursting into the area and finishing well past Jaaskelainen. Reading 1 - 0 West Ham.

GOOOOAAAALLLLLL!!!

READING TAKE THE LEAD!!!

PRESSURE

Reading have had the better of the early going, but West Ham look dangerous in the air. Matt Taylor tries a long-range drive but his shot flies over the top.

EARLY BATTLES

Games between these sides are usually blood-and-thunder affairs, and this one looks no different. Ian Harte swings a free kick in from the right but the foul goes against Reading in the area.

KICK OFF

Reading, in their traditional blue and white kit, get the game underway.

BREAKING TEAM NEWS

Both teams remain unchanged from their boxing day fixtures. Both teams are playing in a 4-5-1 formation, with Pavel Pogrebnyak and Carlton Cole as the lone strikers.

FACTS AND STATS

In last season's battles between these two sides, Reading scored seven goals compared to West Ham's two, whilst the Hammers had two men sent off. Further bad news for Hammers fans is that they have only won once in their last seven visits to the Madejski, back in 2007. However, the Royals have a very poor record this season, conceding 19 goals at home, whilst they have only scored twice in their last five games. Furthermore, before their draw with Swansea on Boxing Day, Reading were on an eight-game losing streak. Regardless of facts and stats, we should be in for a good game today.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE

Today's referee is Michael Oliver. The official will want to have a good game, after Sam Allardyce's criticism of top-flight officials this week. Mr Oliver has shown 42 yellow cards and one red in 20 matches this season, including two yellows for Reading's Noel Hunt and Adam Le Fondre in November's draw with QPR.

WEST HAM TEAM NEWS

Carlton Cole is available to lead the line for the Hammers after his red card against Everton was rescinded. That will be a relief for Sam Allardyce, who is still missing Ricardo Vaz Te due to a knee injury and Andy Carroll due to an ankle knock. Yossi Benayoun has returned to parent club Chelsea following an injury-hit return to Upton Park, whilst Mohamed Diame has a hamstring injury and could be missing for a number of months.

READING TEAM NEWS

The hosts are missing long-term absentees Alex McCarthy, who has a shoulder injury, and Sean Morrison, who is struggling with an ankle knock. Jason Roberts is back in training after a hip injury, but this match may come a little too soon for him. Aside from that, Brian McDermott has no other injury worries.

PREVIEW

Hello and welcome to today's game between Reading and West Ham. Last season, Reading came through with a late surge and pipped their London rivals to an automatic promotion slot, but this season the Hammers are faring considerably better. Can the Royals repeat their feat from last season and overcome the East London team? Stay with us for facts, stats and team news.