Tottenham vs Reading Premier League Preview

PREVIEW

Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to carry their fine form into 2013 as they kick off the New Year against a Reading side in a relegation dogfight. 

Spurs have won six of their past eight matches to stay firmly in contention for a top-four finish, and enjoyed back-to-back victories in their post-Christmas fixtures. 

Gareth Bale was the star of the show with a hat-trick in the 4-0 Boxing Day success at Aston Villa, before Tottenham came from behind to beat Sunderland 2-1 away from home on Saturday. 

Andre Villas-Boas' men will now be looking forward to returning to White Hart Lane to face a team they beat 3-1 at the Madejski Stadium earlier in the season. 

Reading will head to Spurs in good spirits after Pavel Pogrebnyak's goal against West Ham United gave them just a second league win of the campaign. 

The Royals had drawn 0-0 with Swansea City in the previous game to end a run of seven straight defeats, and will now be determined to push on and try to secure survival. 

Brian McDermott's side are three points clear of rock-bottom Queens Park Rangers, but remain five points adrift of safety.

TEAM NEWS

TOTTENHAM

Gareth Bale is suspended for Tottenham after his booking for diving against Sunderland made it five yellow cards for the season.

Andre Villas-Boas has a number of options as Bale's replacement, with Clint Dempsey and Gylfi Sigurdsson coming on as substitutes at the Stadium of Light.

Scott Parker could also be pushing for a first start in midfield, while Villas-Boas may decide to rotate at centre-back yet again after bringing Michael Dawson and Steven Caulker in for Jan Vertonghen and William Gallas last time out.

READING

Jason Roberts could be in contention after missing Reading's last five games with a hip injury.

Adam Le Fondre will hope to feature after being left on the substitutes' bench against West Ham, although Brian McDermott is likely to continue with just one up front and may name an unchanged starting XI.

Defender Sean Morrison returned to the bench for Saturday's win over West Ham after recovering from an ankle injury, but goalkeeper Alex McCarthy is a long-term absentee with a shoulder problem.

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Source: SkySports