Premier League: Reading v Sunderland match preview

A look ahead to the Premier League fixture at the Madejski Stadium

Adam le Fondre came off the bench to grab an unlikely point for Reading (Getty Images)

After the heroics of their late comeback against Chelsea on Wednesday night, Reading will be looking to extend their unbeaten run of league games to four.

Sunderland have kept five clean sheets in their last nine league games and another one wouldn’t go amiss for the Wearsiders.

Reading striker Noel Hunt missed the draw against Chelsea and could have to take a fitness test ahead of the game against the Black Cats. Adam Le Fondre may have done enough to earn a starting berth after scoring both goals in the draw against the European Champions, after coming off the bench.

Sunderland are expected to hand Danny Graham his debut, after the 27-year-old completed his £5m switch from Swansea on deadline day. Defenders Danny Rose and Carlos Cuellar are both in line for recalls after overcoming hamstring injuries.

KICK-OFF: 3.00pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Sunderland 3 (McClean, Fletcher, Sessegnon) Reading 0, Premier League, December 2012

Reading 2 (Ingimarsson, Hunt) Sunderland 1 (Chopra), Premier League, December 2007

Sunderland 2 (Jones, Wallace 2) Reading 1 (Kitson), Premier League, September 2007

STATS…

In the last nine meetings, Sunderland have recorded five wins, Reading winning the other four.

Manchester City (11) are the only club to have more Premier League clean sheets this season than Sunderland.

Adam Le Fondre has scored the most goals (six) for a substitute this season, the striker only needs one more to set a new Premier league record. He is currently tied with Tore Andre Flo (for Chelsea in 1997-98) and Jermain Defoe (for West Ham 2001-02).

Sunderland last recorded a league double over Reading, in 2003/04, when both teams where in Division 1 (now the Championship).

ODDS…

Reading to win: 2.45

Stoke to win: 3.0

Draw: 3.2

CLASSIC MATCH...

The league fixture in September 2007 saw Sunderland seemingly share the spoils courtesy of a late Michael Chopra penalty, with only seven minutes remaining, to make it 1-1. Reading would have the last laugh however through an injury time winner from Stephen Hunt.

TV: Highlights at BBC 1 - 10.35pm