Barclays Premier League

COMEBACK KINGS DO IT AGAIN

At half time, I wouldn't have bet on Reading even getting a thing from this game. The Royals were fortunate to be only one goal behind due to the heroics of Adam Federici, and Newcastle were firmly in control. Yohan Cabaye's free kick was superb and deserved to go in, and Reading seemed to have no reply. But cometh the hour, cometh the man and up stepped Adam Le Fondre to secure the points for his side. His first was dubious, turning home from the floor after he lost his footing, but his second was a brilliant half-volley from Jimmy Kebe's cross. The Newcastle fans were not happy that Yohan Cabaye was withdrawn in the second period, despite the signs of him carrying an injury, and Alan Pardew was roundly booed. The boos continued when the final whistle sounded, with another loss for the Magpies, but Reading will be delighted. Final score Newcastle 1 - 2 Reading.

FULL TIME

The referee ends the game, and Reading have all three points. The Newcastle fans aren't happy and jeer their team from the field. Newcastle 1 - 2 Reading.

HANDBAGS

Jimmy Kebe and Fabricio Coloccini get in each other's face after the Reading man fouled Coloccini. Kebe is booked and protests, but has no right to as he has actually ripped Coloccini's shirt.

GOOD STOP

Davide Santon swings in a cross from deep on the left, Shola Ameobi heads it down, and Gabriel Obertan shoots straight into the arms of Adam Federici.

HOLDING ON

Newcastle are giving this everything, and Reading are holding out. This would be a huge win once again for the Royals, and their first ever in the league at Newcastle.

ADDED TIME

Four minutes are signalled. Squeaky bum time for all concerned.

LAST-DITCH

Reading are holding on here. Their box is packed with players and Gael Bigirimana jinks in from the right, but his cross is turned away by Jimmy Kebe before Shola Ameobi can get there. Kebe's had a great day today.

TERRIBLE MISS

Is that the chance that Newcastle will rue? Mathieu Debuchy crosses from the right, James Perch knocks it down, and Papiss Cisse has all the time in the world to finish. He controls it, turns, and blazes over the bar. Awful finishing.

RUNNING OUT OF TIME

Newcastle are pressing forward but they are running out of time.

TELLING OFF

Mike Williamson is lucky here, as he trips Pavel Pogrebnyak. The Newcastle man is given a long talking to by the referee, and you can't help but think that it could have been a second yellow if it was closer to the Newcastle goal.

TURNAROUND

Reading left it to the last minute last week to get the win against West Brom, and they have done it a bit earlier this week. Can they hang on, or will Newcastle get back into this?

FINAL CHANGE

Gabriel Obertan is the final sub for the home side, taking the place of the quiet Vurnon Anita.

GREAT RECORD

Adam Le Fondre is on fire. The striker now has 10 goals for the season, but five of those have come in his last three games. No wonder the Reading fans are calling for him to start.

BOOKING

Mathieu Debuchy is the next man to be shown the yellow card.

NO DOUBT ABOUT THIS ONE

If the first goal was dubious, the second from Adam Le Fondre is definite. Jobi McAnuff swings in a cross from the left and Jimmy Kebe heads it back down. Hope Akpan completely miskicks the ball but Le Fondre is there to turn home. Newcastle 1 - 2 Reading.

GOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL

HE'S DONE IT ONCE AGAIN!!!!

RIGHT DECISION

Yohan Cabaye went straight down the tunnel with the physio after his withdrawal, proving that the boss knows best.

NOT HAPPY

Well, I haven't heard booing like this in some time. Alan Pardew is being rounded upon by his own fans for withdrawing Yohan Cabaye and sending on Gael Bigirimana.

THEY ALL COUNT!

Well, Reading will take this. Mikele Leigertwood sends a superb 50-yard ball out to Kebe on the right, and the winger sends in a good low cross. Adam Le Fondre is bundled over by Mike Williamson but the ball comes off some part of him and rolls in. Replays are proving inconclusive, and it could be a handball, but Reading won't care. Newcastle 1 - 1 Reading.

GOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL

THE SUPER-SUB DOES IT AGAIN!!!

READING CHANGE

Super-sub Adam Le Fondre comes on for Danny Guthrie, who doesn't look happy to be withdrawn.

STRUGGLING

Reading are struggling to make chances for themselves here, and the home side look set for victory.

BOOKING

Stephen Kelly is given a yellow card for another clash with Jonas Gutierrez, this time jumping unfairly with him. It doesn't look good for the Newcastle winger.

DOUBLE CHANGE

James Perch takes the place of Sylvain Marveaux, whilst Hope Akpan comes on for his debut in the place of Garath McCleary.

OVER THE BAR

Danny Guthrie knocks the ball over the top and Jimmy Kebe heads it down for Pavel Pogrebnyak, but the big striker's effort is well over the bar.

WEATHER CONDITIONS

The snow is back here in the North East. A light dusting so far, but it is making visibility difficult for the players.

OUCH

Jonas Gutierrez is down receiving treatment after a knock on the ankle from Stephen Kelly. No malice there from the Reading man.

UNLUCKY

Danny Guthrie steps up to bend the free kick in, but sends it well over the bar. The Newcastle fans jeer their former midfielder.

YELLOW CARD

Mike Williamson is penalised for a trip on Jimmy Kebe. Needless, considering Fabricio Coloccini was there.

LONELY JOB

You do feel sorry for Pavel Pogrebnyak. The big Russian has often been used as a lone striker this season and has struggled against big centre backs, and seems to be floundering today with Mike Williamson and Fabricio Coloccini in charge.

SUPERB DEFENDING

Newcastle surge forward on the break and Papiss Cisse gets down the left well. His cross looks destined for the head of Sylvain Marveaux but Adrian Mariappa gets there just in time to head away.

TRYING HARD

Reading have started this second half well but are lacking quality in the final third. Pavel Pogrebnyak in particular is guilty of giving the ball away all too often.

POOR SPORTSMANSHIP

Yohan Cabaye is lucky to escape a booking after kicking out at Danny Guthrie. Jonas Gutierrez diverts the resulting free kick out for a corner.

KICK OFF

Reading, in their all-yellow kit, start the period. No changes from either side.

MOMENT OF MAGIC

Newcastle are ahead here thanks to a stunning free kick from Yohan Cabaye. Apart from that, Reading have just about held their hosts with Adam Federici pulling off several key saves to keep his side in it. The Royals have looked dangerous on the counter but will rue giving away a free kick in such a dangerous position, from which Cabaye punished them. Newcastle, and Papiss Cisse in particular, will rue both Federici's good form and their own poor shooting. Let's see what the second half has to offer.

HALF TIME

The referee ends the half. Newcastle 1 - 0 Reading.

WAITING FOR THE WHISTLE

The game has settled in the last few minutes, with the ball being played around midfield without any real chances. One minute of added time is signalled.

SLOWING DOWN

The weather is playing a part in this fixture, no doubt about it. All of the players look cold and the pace of the play is slow. Mathieu Debuchy is showing off that classic combination of short-sleeve shirt and gloves, however.

FIGHTING BACK

Reading are pressing forward now, looking to get back into this game, but look exposed at the back. Brian McDermott will want to address that.

LOVELY

That really was a lovely free kick from Yohan Cabaye. Newcastle need players like him back at their best if they are to recover from their recent slump.

STUNNING FREE KICK

Pick that out. Yohan Cabaye shows the Newcastle fans what they've been missing. Adrian Mariappa fouls Sylvain Marveaux on the edge of the 'D' and the referee takes an age to sort out some pushing and shoving. Undeterred, Cabaye bends the ball up and over the wall and into the top corner. Superb stuff. Newcastle 1 - 0 Reading.

GOOOOAAAAAALLLL

NEWCASTLE TAKE THE LEAD!!!!

ALL NEWCASTLE

The hosts are still pressing here but the Reading defence are just about holding on. How long they can do it for, I don't know.

UNBEATABLE

Adam Federici is having an absolute stormer today. Mathieu Debuchy surges down the right and collects a long ball, before playing it across the face of goal for Papiss Cisse. The striker has a seemingly empty net to pass into, but somehow Federici makes himself big to divert it away. Unreal stuff.

STRAIGHT AT THE KEEPER

Newcastle have another free kick and this time the Reading defence clear, but Sylvain Marveaux chips it back in for Papiss Cisse. The striker is completely unmarked but heads straight into the arms of Adam Federici.

CLOSE!

Reading have a glorious chance. Mikele Leigertwood picks out Garath McCleary with another lovely ball and the former Forest man beats Mathieu Debuchy all ends up. His low cross finds Pavel Pogrebnyak but he has to stretch for the shot and it rolls wide of the goal.

POOR

Yohan Cabaye bends in a free kick from the right, but Fabricio Coloccini is flagged offside as he gets up to head it.

TRYING TO BE A HERO

New boy Mathieu Debuchy gets a rush of blood to the head and listens to the crowd, who urge him to shoot from inside the centre circle. He does, but it falls well short and rolls out for a goal kick.

HERE COMES THE SNOW

The heavens have opened and the snow is coming down heavily in Newcastle. Those blue lines aren't such a silly idea now.

USING THEIR MEN

Reading are happy to sit back and defend, before moving forward as a unit to give it a go. A good strategy, but it could cost them on the break with Newcastle's pacy players.

SUPERB

Another brilliant stop from Adam Federici. Cabaye lifts a ball over the top and Papiss Cisse runs clear to head goalwards, but the Aussie keeper pulls off a fantastic reflex save to keep it out.

GOOD SAVE

Yohan Cabaye wriggles free of the defence and finds himself one-on-one with Adam Federici, who makes a smart stop from the Frenchman's shot.

POOR DECISION

Reading hit Newcastle on the counter and Mikele Leigertwood threads a lovely ball through the defence for Jimmy Kebe. The Malian, 29 today, waits for options instead of shooting and is robbed of the ball.

RESTLESS

The fans are not their normal lively selves today. Perhaps it's the weather, or maybe the fact that they have seen over 10 minutes of nothing so far.

BAD OMEN

Alan Pardew, a former Reading player and manager, has never beaten his former side when he has played them in the Premier League. Will that run continue today?

ALL NEWCASTLE

The hosts have had all of the ball and all of the action so far, but Reading have got a good shape and look ready to give it a go should an opportunity present itself.

POOR CROSS

Jonas Gutierrez and Davide Santon combine well down the left for Newcastle, before the former's cross is easily collected by Adam Federici. Not good from the Argentine.

UNLUCKY

Yohan Cabaye swings in a free kick from the right and it evades everyone except Mike Williamson, but the centre half loses his footing and cannot get the shot off.

APPLAUSE

Fabricio Coloccini, whose future on Tyneside is in doubt, receives warm applause from the home fans as he heads clear an Ian Harte free kick.

READY FOR SNOW

The lines at St James' Park have been painted blue in anticipation of more bad weather, and the orange coloured ball is ready and waiting should it be needed.

KICK OFF

Newcastle start the game, kicking from left to right.

BREAKING READING TEAM NEWS

The hosts make three changes to the side that beat West Brom. Stephen Kelly makes his debut in the place of Chris Gunter, whilst Jem Karacan and Daniel Carrico drop out with Garath McCleary and Mikele Leigertwood coming in.

BREAKING NEWCASTLE TEAM NEWS

The hosts make two changes, as expected, for the visit of Reading. Yohan Cabaye returns to the centre of the park to replace James Perch, and Shola Ameobi takes the place of Gabriel Obertan, with Papiss Cisse moving out wide.

FACTS AND STATS

The most important fact for the home fans is that Reading have never taken a point from them at St James' Park, losing on all seven occassions. The Magpies have outscored the Royals 23-4 in those seven encounters. However, recent form does favour the visitors, with Brian McDermott's men winning two of their last three, compared to Newcastle's one win in 13 league games. Reading have not won away from home this season, and it is facts such as these which mean we are in for an exciting match this afternoon.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE

Andre Marriner is in charge of this tie today, and the man from the West Midlands is having a somewhat lenient season. He has shown no red cards and 61 yellows in his 19 games, and also officiated the return fixture earlier in the season which ended in a 2-2 draw. The only other time he has taken charge of either of these sides was Newcastle's home loss to Manchester City in December.

READING TEAM NEWS

Reading new boy Stephen Kelly could make his debut for the club having arrived from Fulham, whilst Hope Akpan is pushing for his first start in the centre of midfield. Daniel Carrico looked short of fitness on his debut against West Brom and could drop to the bench, and Jay Tabb has been told he can leave the club so is unlikely to be involved. Brian McDermott could change strategy and choose to start Adam Le Fondre up front with Pavel Pogrebnyak.

NEWCASTLE TEAM NEWS

Yohan Cabaye is likely to provide the biggest boost for the home side, having come off the bench in their last fixture against Norwich. The influential Frenchman is set to start, with James Perch the likely candidate to make way. Steven Taylor is fit after an 11-game absence and could return, whilst Shola Ameobi returns after a one-match suspension. Ryan Taylor, Danny Simpson and Dan Gosling are still missing with different complaints, whilst Haris Vuckic is a long-term absentee with a knee problem.

PREVIEW

Hello and welcome to today's game between Newcastle United and Reading. Both of these teams are struggling in the league but it is Reading who have the better recent form. Stay with us for team news, facts and stats.