Premier League: Reading v QPR match preview

A look ahead to this weekend's Premier League fixture at the Madejski Stadium

Reading manager Nigel Adkins (GETTY IMAGES)

This game can only be billed as the battle to avoid the Premier League’s wooden spoon. Defeat will mean relegation but even if either side win, they will be relegated if Aston Villa beat Sunderland on Monday night. Both sides trail Villa by 10 points with four games remaining and only the greatest of escapes will avoid this fixture featuring in the Championship next season.

Nigel Adkins has managed to pick up just one point since taking over at Reading and the Royals have failed to win in their last nine games. QPR have not fared much better, having only earned one point in their last five games.

Both teams will be among the Championship favourites next season, although Harry Redknapp has insisted an immediate return to the top flight will not be easy for his high-earning flops.

The one consolation each side will take from this season is the £60 million that they will receive from parachute payments, which will be paid in four instalments over the following four years.

Back in February, when Sky selected it for live broadcast, this fixture looked like it would be a classic six-pointer. For the players it will be a chance to impress potential suitors watching from their sofas ahead of the summer transfer window but for fans, only pride is at stake.

KICK-OFF: Sunday, 1.30pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS...

QPR 1 (Cisse) Reading 1 (Gorkss), Premier League, November 2012

QPR 2 (Hoilett, Cisse) Reading 3 (Gorkss, Shorey, Pogrebnyak), Capital One Cup, September 2012

Reading 0 QPR 1 (Routledge), Championship, February 2011

STATS...

QPR have only lost one of their last seven league games against Reading.

There have been five red cards in the last five league meetings between QPR and Reading.

QPR have won just four games this season, the lowest in the Premier League and one fewer than Reading.

This is the first time that Reading and QPR have played each other in the top flight of English football.

ODDS…

Reading to win: 2.6

QPR to win: 2.94

Draw: 3.6

TV: Live on Sky Sports 1 at 1.30pm, highlights on BBC1 at 10.25pm