Match preview - Wolves v Reading

Another important game, and yet another game on the telly.

To say that Wolves - and Kenny Jackett - could do with a win on Boxing Day is an understatement akin to saying Christmas crooner Roy Wood sort of likes this time of year a little bit (kerching).

Wolves are in big trouble, edging ever closer to the bottom three, and Jackett is under increasing pressure to turn things around.

Successive defeats to Leeds and Sheffield Wednesday, in which Wolves' defending was about as sturdy as a rubber dinghy on a tidal wave, have left their faint play-off hopes hanging by a thread.

Of more pressing concern is not getting dragged into a relegation dogfight.

With the transfer window (and the arrivals of Michal Zyro and possibly Mike Williamson) still three games away, Jackett needs his players to show some cojones and start producing the kind of football that has been seen far too infrequently this season.

Otherwise their boss might not make it to January...

Emiliano Martinez (thigh) and Kortney Hause (hamstring) are still sidelined.

Despite conceding seven goals in two matches there won't be many changes in defence...as Wolves don't have anymore defenders to choose from, bar Scott Golbourne.

Golbourne and David Edwards were dropped for the Hillsborough horror show and will be pushing for recalls.

James Henry impressed in the number 10 role, particularly in the first half, in Yorkshire, but Nathan Byrne wasn't quite as effective on the right and was substituted, so a reshuffle is likely.

Reading welcome back defender Andrew Taylor from injury, but Anton Ferdinand is out and on-loan Chelsea man Michael Hector is a doubt.

LIKELY LINE UPS

Wolves (4-2-3-1): Ikeme; Iorfa, Batth (c), Ebanks-Landell, Golbourne; McDonald, Price; Henry, Edwards, Graham; Afobe. Subs: McCarey, Doherty, Coady, Byrne, Wallace, Le Fondre, Holt.

Reading (4-4-2): Bond; Gunter, McShane (c), Hector, Quinn; Blackman, Norwood, Williams, McCleary; Vydra, Robson-Kanu. Subs: Sa, Piazon, Fernandez, John, Al-Habsi, Cooper, Taylor. Subs: Al-Habsi, Taylor, Sa, Piazon, Fernandez, John, Cooper.

FORM GUIDE

Two wins in 12 for Wolves. And neither of those were at Molineux.

Jackett's team have tasted victory on just two occasions at home all season (against Charlton and Huddersfield).

Reading are 11th in the Championship, five points ahead.

New (and old) boss Brian McDermott oversaw a 1-0 victory over Blackburn in his first game back with the Royals last weekend, ending a run of four successive defeats that had derailed their play-off campaign.

MATCH ODDS

Wolves are 6/4 to win with most bookies, while Reading are priced at 15/8.

Benik Afobe has scored two in his last two games after being recalled to the side. He briefly played for Reading and you get 5/1 on him breaking the deadlock.

Adam Le Fondre is a Reading legend and although he might not start tomorrow you can get 38/1 on him scoring anytime and Wolves winning 2-1.

Jordan Graham has gone close to scoring in every game he's played for Wolves so far. If he scores first tomorrow and Wolves win 1-0 you can get £50 back on a £1 bet.

February 7, 2015 (Championship), Wolves 1 Reading 2. Pavel Pogrebnyak gave Reading the lead after just 20 seconds. Benik Afobe equalised but Danny Williams struck a 70th minute winner for Steve Clarke's team.

September 30, 2008 (Championship), Wolves 0 Reading 3. Mick McCarthy's league leaders lost their first game of the season. Wayne Hennessey pushed a Stephen Hunt (remember him?) corner into his own net under pressure from Kevin Doyle (remember him?) and then Andre Bikey and Shane Long added two more goals after the break.

December 26, 2005 (Championship), Wolves 0 Reading 2. Goals from Dave Kitson and Bobby Convey gave Steve Coppell's league leaders their ninth successive win.

December 4, 2004 (Championship), Wolves 4 Reading 1. Caretaker boss Stuart Gray oversaw Wolves' joint-biggest win of the season. Colin Cameron and Seyi Olofinjana put them 2-0 up, Dean Morgan halved the lead but two goals from substitute Leon Clarke sealed the points. Within a week Glenn Hoddle was manager and the 1-1 draws started.

May 10, 2003 (First Division play-offs), Wolves 2 Reading 1. Wolves held their nerve in the play-off semi-final first leg. Nicky Forster gave Reading the lead but a deflected Shaun Newton strike and a Lee Naylor free kick gave Wolves a crucial advantage, which they added to in a 1-0 second-leg win at the Madejski.

Kenny Jackett: "In the last two games we've looked pretty frail and easy to play against. That has to stop now.

"We have to concentrate, address our problems and come out fighting.

"In our last home game against Leeds, for 30 to 40 minutes we looked a very good side and played well, and then from there fell away.

"We need to replicate that period but sustain it for 95 minutes.

"There is a determination within the dressing room to put things right."

Brian McDermott: "When you go to Molineux you know you're in for a tough game – the crowd will get behind them and it's Boxing Day with everything that goes with that.

"Wolves have got guys who can score. They've got Benik Afobe, who we had at Reading when we won the league. He's a great kid and he's done really well for himself, so I'm really pleased for him.

"They've got a legend from Reading in Adam Le Fondre, who scored every time he came off the bench in the Premier League and I know him really well.

"They've also got James Henry who used to be here. They've got a side that is really capable.

"I watched their game back against Leeds and they were unfortunate – they could have gone 2-0 up which would have made it difficult for Leeds.

"So we have to do what we have to do; we'll concentrate on ourselves and respect the opponents as well."

THE REF

Simon Hooper (Wiltshire). Was at Molineux twice last season, sending off Norwich's Martin Olsson during a 1-0 win on the opening day of the campaign.

Was also in charge for the 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday. This season he's shown 57 yellow cards and two red in 24 matches.